I  B  R.AR.Y 

OF  THL 

UNIVERSITY 
OF    ILLINOIS 


977.585 

Wl5h 

M.\ 


V- 

1   , 


HISTORY 

OF 


Macoupin  County 
ILLINOIS 

Biographical  and  Pictorial 


HON.  CHARLES  A.  WALKER 

Supervising  Editor 


VOLUME  I 


ILLUSTRATED 


CHICAGO 

THE  S.  J.  CLARKE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

191 1 


Y.I 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I. 

INTRODUCTION. 

Introduction — The  Northwest  Territory — Father  Marquette  and  Louis  Joliet 
— State  of  Illinois  admitted  to  the  Union  and  Constitution  adopted — First 
events  of  interest  in  the  State — The  Black  Hawk  war — The  Mexican  war  9 

CHAPTER  II. 
o 

GEOLOGY. 

O  Preparation  of  the  earth  for  man's  convenience — The  rocks  and  hills  as  Na- 
ture left  them — Coal  and  other  mineral  formations  in  the  county — Fauna 
and  flora  of  the  county 67 

CHAPTER  III. 

ORGANIZATION. 

Macoupin  county  organized  in  1829 — Commissioners  named  to  select  a  county 
seat — Provisions  made  for  the  first  election — -First  county  officials — First 
grand  and  petit  jurors — First  and  only  legal  execution  75 

CHAPTER  IV. 

TOPOGRAPHY. 
^ 

it  Macoupin  is  classed  as  one  of  the  south-central  counties — The  county  an  ob- 
long square — Originally  of  prairie  and  undulating — Soil — Grasses — Tim- 
ber— Mounds,  etc  87 

CHAPTER  V. 

THE    PIONEER. 

David  Coop  the  first  settler — A  creek  and  mound  named  for  the  pioneer — 
Located  on  Coop's  Creek  in  1815 — Others  soon  followed — Names  of  many 
who  came  at  a  later  period  but  opened  the  county  to  settlement 90 

8 


' ' 3566G 


4  CONTEXTS 

CHAPTER  VI. 
MEMORY'S  STORE  HOUSE. 

Recollections  of  a  pioneer — Hon.  Charles  A.  Walker  here  in  1828,  three  years 
before  the  county  was  organized — He  was  acquainted  with  many  of  the 
pioneers  of  Macoupin — Reminiscences  entertainingly  related  in 

CHAPTER  VII. 

GOVERNMENT. 

Commissioners'  court  of  almost  unlimited  power — List  of  first  voters — Com- 
missioners' court  abolished  and  county  divided  into  townships — Names  of 
county  officials  from  1829  to  1911  127 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  PRIMITIVE. 

This  chapter  tells  of  how  the  pioneer  managed  to  live — Also  how  the  early 
settler  endured  many  hardships  and  privations — Heroism  and  fortitude  of 
noble  women,  their  sacrifices  and  wonderful  resourcefulness — They  were 
brave,  too,  in  the  face  of  danger 144 

CHAPTER  IX. 

PUBLIC  BUILDINGS. 

The  first  court  house  a  primitive  log  building — Men  of  note  held  forth  there 
— Second  building  somewhat  more  pretentious  than  its  predecessor — Here 
Lincoln,  Douglas  and  many  others  who  became  of  national  note  foregath- 
ered— Early  criminal  record  151 

CHAPTER  X. 


A  building  with  a  history — Money  "no  object"  to  its  promoters — Architect- 
urally "a  thing  of  beauty" — Creates  a  tax  upon  the  people  lasting  over  forty 
years — Grand  jubilee  at  public  burning  of  last  bond  by  Governor  Charles 
S.  Deneen 1 57 

CHAPTER  XI. 

CIVIL   WAR. 

Patriotic  Macoupin  and  her  splendid  record  in  the  war  between  the  States — 
First  regiment  in  Illinois  organized  at  Carlinville  in  response  to  Lincoln's 
first  call  for  troops — History  of  the  brave  men  who  went  to  the  front — 
Full  roster  of  those  who  served  from  this  county 171 


CONTENTS  5 

CHAPTER  XII. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  church  always  comes  first  in  a  new  community — Many  handsome  houses 
of  worship  erected  in  the  county  in  recent  years — A  list  of  organizations 
in  the  county  199 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

Schools  follow  the  settler — Macoupin  county  at  a  high  altitude  in  her  educa- 
tional institutions — History  of  the  schools  by  County  Superintendent  Rob- 
ert C.  Moore — Blackburn  College 234 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

PIONEER  SCHOOLS. 

The  pedagogue  and  the  schoolhouse  of  early  days — The  teacher  "boarded 
'round"  and  took  "pot  luck" — No  "laughing  out  in  school"  allowed — 
Schoolhouses  without  windows  simply  a  "hole  in  the  wall" 260 

CHAPTER  XV. 

THE   HEALING  ART. 

The  pioneer  physician  and  his  burdens — There  were  no  specialists  in  those 
days — Made  his  own  pills  and  used  the  lance  with  or  without  provocation 
— Quick  of  perception  and  self  reliant — Sketches  of  some  pioneers  and 
others — Macoupin  County  Medical  Society  267 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

BENCH   AND  BAR. 

Some  mention  of  the  pioneer  lawyer — Those  who  shed  luster  on  the  legal 
profession  and  made  a  stir  in  the  world — General  John  M.  Palmer — Gen- 
eral John  I.  Rinaker  and  others — Present  members  of  the  Macoupin  bar.  .279 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

JOHN    M.    PALMER. 

Autobiography  of  John  M.  Palmer— Lawyer — Soldier — Statesman — Gave 
prominence  to  the  local  bar — Served  his  country  in  the  hour  of  peril--- 
Became  governor  of  Illinois  and  honored  the  state  in  the  national  senate 
— Candidate  for  President  on  the  gold  standard  Democratic  ticket 289 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE  PRESS. 

The  printer  early  in  the  field  and  one  of  the  great  educational  factors  of  the 
day — A  considerable  history  of  Macoupin  County's  newspapers — The 
statesman  pioneer  of  them  all — Many  well  edited  journals  abreast  of  the 
times  in  news  and  make-up — Papers  of  by-gone  days  are  here  mentioned .  .303 


6  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

VARIOUS  THINGS. 

Transportation — Steam  and  electric  railroads — County  Fair  Association- 
Population  of  the  county — Macoupin  a  wealthy  and  progressive  section . .  308 

CHAPTER  XX. 

REMINISCENCES. 

The  pioneer  preacher  and  his  bride — Log  court  house  used  for  many  purposes 
— Mention  of  Carlinville's  first  inhabitants — Methodist  and  Baptist 
churches  organized — First  child  born  in  the  county  seat  317 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
"JERSEY  STREET." 

Interesting  section  of  the  county — From  Rockbridge  to  Piasa  Creek — Lyman 
L.  Palmer  writes  with  a  facile  pen  of  early  days  and  their  people — Sweet 
singers  of  Medora — Old  Tobe — Bill  Davis'  ox  team— The  village  dominie 

The  village  plow  maker — A  hard  nut  to  crack 328 

\ 

CHAPTER  XXII 

THE   TOWNSHIPS. 

This  chapter  is  a  long  one  and  speaks  of  the  twenty-six  townships  of  the 
county — Hamlets,  villages,  towns  and  cities— First  settlers  in  the  various 
localities — Founding  and  growth  of  the  trading  points — Hilyard  town- 
ship   358 

REMINISCENT. 

A  tale  well  told  by  J.  B.  Andrews  of  early  days  in  Shipman  township — He 
tells  of  the  First  Baptist  Society — The  primitive  schools — Manumitted 
slaves  and  the  underground  railroad — Lack  of  medical  attendance 406 

CARLINVILLE. 

Seth  Hodges  and  Ezekiel  Good  donate  land  for  the  county  seat — Named  in 
honor  of  Thomas  Carlin,  member  of  the  Legislature — First  lot  sold — Has 
now  a  population  of  three  thousand,  six  hundred  and  sixty — Mayors  and 
public  utilities 419 


PREFACE. 

For  more  than  a  decade  I  have  been  appealed  to  by  a  number  of  old  pioneers 
left  in  our  county  to  write  and  have  published  in  book  form  my  recollections 
of  the  settlement  and  organization  of  the  county  as  well  as  the  characteristics 
of.  the  pioneers  who  settled  in  the  "New  Wilderness."  That  really  was  the  mov- 
ing cause  that  induced  me  to  accept  the  position  as  supervising  editor  of  this 
history.  The  purpose  and  intent  of  the  publishers  were  to  get  facts  and  publish 
nothing  that  was  not  well  substantiated;  hence  this  record  of  those  early  times 
ought  to  be  and  will  be  the  standard  history  of  the  county  appertaining  to  its 
organization  and  settlement,  and  the  events  treated  of  in  the  history,  so  far  as 
I  have  had  control,  have  been  recorded  in  justification  of  the  action  of  those 
who  aided  in  building  up  this  great  and  prosperous  county  from  the  time  of  the 
early  pioneers  to  the  present  period. 

I  quote  from  the  writings  of  one  of  our  own  pioneers — "The  memory  of 
the  life  of  even  a  pioneer  is  fleeting.  The  name  written  upon  the  shady  shore 
of  time  is  effaced  by  the  coming  wave  of  the  next  generation,  and  unless  some 
effort  is  made  to  preserve  in  permanent  form  a  record  of  that  work  it  will  be 
lost  to  future  generations.  There  is  no  better  way  to  preserve  the  most  valued 
items  in  the  history  of  a  county  and  its  progressive  citizens  than  by  the  medium 
of  such  a  history." 

In  the  preparation  of  this  work  the  editor  and  publishers  have  recognized 
the  magnitude  of  the  task  undertaken  and  in  getting  the  material  for  the  same 
there  has  been  a  constant  aim  to  use  a  just  discrimination  in  regard  to  the 
selection  of  such  facts  as  will  interest  the  reading  public.  Great  labor  and  ex- 
pense have  been  required  to  collect  such  facts  that  will  be  of  benefit  to  the 
future  generations  that  will  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  the  early  pioneers  of 
our  county. 

Some  names  of  families  worthy  of  perpetuation  here  will  not  appear  in  the 
history,  either  on  account  of  the  apathy  of  those  concerned,  or  the  inability 
to  secure  the  facts  desired  from  those  who  are  most  interested. 

The  publishers  of  this  history  at  much  expense  sent  agents  into  every  part 
of  the  county  to  glean  facts  pertaining  to  the  events  and  history  of  every  citi- 
zen or  his  ancestors,  who  has  been  active  as  a  worker  in  the  upbuilding  of  the 
county,  giving  to  such  citizens  or  family  an  opportunity  to  have  the  leading 
facts  recorded  in  the  history  and,  if  it  shall  appear  that  some  one's  name  is 
omitted  it  must  not  be  said  that  they  (the  publishers)  are  responsible  for  that 
omission,  as  an  opportunity  was  given  to  such  persons  and  they  failed  or  re- 
fused to  avail  themselves  of  it,  they  are  thereby  estopped  from  criticizing  the 
work  on  that  account.  Thanks  are  due  and  hereby  given  to  all  who  in  any  man- 
ner contributed  to  the  completion  of  this  work. 

CHARLES  A.  WALKER, 

Supervising  Editor. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


History  of  Macoupin  County 


CHAPTER  I. 
INTRODUCTION. 

INTRODUCTION — THE     NORTHWEST     TERRITORY FATHER      MARQUETTE     AND     LOUIS 

JOLIET STATE     OF     ILLINOIS     ADMITTED     TO     THE     UNION     AND     CONSTITUTION 

ADOPTED FIRST   EVENTS   OF   INTEREST   IN    THE  STATE — THE   BLACK    HAWK    WAR 

THE   MEXICAN    WAR. 

Within  the  last  thirty  years  this  fertile  portion  of  the  Prairie  state  has  as- 
sumed a  new  aspect.  In  the  moral  and  physical  changes  that  have  produced  this 
result,  in  the  improvements  of  its  soil,  and  the  establishment  of  its  political  and 
literary  institutions,  you,  the  inhabitants  of"  the  county,  have  ever  been  the  zeal- 
ous actors. 

In  the  progress  of  this  great  change,  much  is  due  to  the  kind  and  fostering 
care  of  a  good  government  in  promoting  the  settlement  and  eliciting  the  latent 
resources  of  this  portion'  of  the  state.  But  the  slightest  reflection  will  make  it 
evident  that  still  more  is  due  to  manly  enterprise,  individual  hardihood,  and 
personal  exertion  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  county.  In  this  personal  devotion, 
many  persons  have  rendered  themselves  conspicuous,  and  their  names  are  en- 
graved upon  the  minds  of  a  posterity  that  has  arisen  to  take  their  places.  The 
active  part  that  they  and  their  ancestors  have  taken  in  the  work  of  subduing 
this,  our  common  country,  their  zeal  and  services  in  promoting  the  general  wel- 
fare, is  generally  known  and  appreciated  by  all. 

The  country  is  now  in  a  most  prosperous  condition.  Its  agricultural  re- 
sources have  been  improved  and  developed,  its  natural  improvements  fostered 
and  encouraged;  large  manufacturing  establishments  have  been  erected;  schools 
and  institutions  of  learning  built  up  and  maintained,  while  its  churches  and  re- 
ligious institutions  have  received  the  support  and  encouragement  of  a  whole, 
united  people. 

NORTHWEST    TERRITORY EARLY    EXPLORATIONS. 

In  writing  a  history  of  Macoupin  county,  some  reference  must  be  made  to 
the  state  of  which  the  county  forms  so  important  a  part  and  not  only  of  the  state, 
but  also  of  the  great  northwest,  where  the  first  explorations  and  discoveries  were 
made  and  where  the  pioneers  of  these  many  explorations,  the  Jesuits,  first 
landed  to  prosecute  their  journeys  through  the  country. 

9 


10  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

The  Great  Northwest  territory,  which  was  ceded  by  Virginia  to  the  United 
States,  in  1784,  embraced  what  is  now  five  of  the  larger  of  the  middle  western 
states,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan  and  Wisconsin,  and  that  portion  of  Min- 
nesota lying  east  of  the  Mississippi  river.  It  is  a  mighty  empire  in  itself  and  now 
contains  many  millions  of  inhabitants.  Its  great  lakes  are  inland  seas  of  fresh 
water,  while  its  rivers  are  among  the  largest  of  the  North  American  Continent. 

When  the  act  of  ceding  this  vast  territory  was  consummated,  there  were 
comparatively  few  white  inhabitants  included  within  its  borders,  while  some 
very  extensive  portions  had  not  probably  a  single  white  inhabitant. 

FIRST   EXPLORATIONS. 

The  first  explorations  made  in  that  portion  of  the  territory  now  embraced 
within  the  borders  of  the  great  state  of  Illinois  was  in  1673,  when  Father  Mar- 
quette  and  his  companion,  Louis  Joliet,  set  out  from  what  was  then  known  as  the 
Straits  of  Mackinac,  or  Michilimackinac,  on  a  voyage  of  exploration  and  dis- 
covery. 

Previous  to  this  one  Jean  Nicolet,  a  native  of  Cherbourg,  France,  came  to 
Canada  and  dwelt  for  several  years  with  the  natives,  learned  their  language  and 
adopted  their  mode  of  living,  and  to  him,  it  is  claimed,  belongs  the  honor  of  hav- 
ing discovered  Lake  Michigan,  then  generally  called  the  French  "Lac  des  Illi- 
nois;" that  he  first  saw  it  July  4,  1634,  and  that  on  the  same  voyage  he  went 
into  Green  Bay,  known  to  the  French  as  "Baye  des  Puens,"  and  visited  the 
Chippewa  tribe  of  Indians  and  the  Winnebagoes  on  the  lake  of  that  name.  But 
very  little  is  known  of  Nicolet's  voyage  at  that  time,  as  he  kept  but  few  records 
of  his  adventures. 

Nicholas  Perrot  was  another  of  the  daring  spirits  in  those  days  to  brave  the 
dangers  in  exploring  the  great  western  country.  He  discovered  the  first  lead 
mines  in  the  west,  and  was  for  several  years  in  command  of  the  country  around 
Green  Bay.  He  was  a  man  of  learning  and  intelligence  and  committed  to  writ- 
ing an  interesting  account  of  his  labors  and  explorations  from  1670  to  1690, 
a  period  of  twenty  years.  It  was  during  his  journey  ings  in  the  west  that  the 
notable  conference  was  held  between  the  French  and  seventeen  tribes  of  na- 
tions at  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  June  14,  1671.  It  was  at  this  conference  that  the 
French  gained  possession  of  Lakes  Huron  and  Superior  "and  all  the  countries 
contiguous  thereto,  and  southward  to  the  sea." 

In  1667,  Father  Marquette,  with  that  fearless  and  intrepid  man,  Claude  Al- 
louez,  and  a  companion,  Claude  Dablon,  both  brothers  in  the  same  order  with 
himself,  went  up  the  river  that  forms  the  outlet  to  Lake  Superior,  to  the  falls, 
and  there  established  a  mission,  which  they  named  "The  Mission  of  Saint 
Mary,"  but  now  known  as  Sault  Ste.  Marie.  They  named  the  river  "Saint 
Mary,"  and  then  started  on  a  journey  up  the  great  lake,  with  the  object  of  dis- 
covering, if  possible,  its  western  extremity.  They  coasted  the  whole  southern 
shore  of  the  lake,  passing  through  some  beautiful  islands  when  near  the  western 
end,  and  the  islands,  being  twelve  in  number,  they  named  them  the  "Twelve 
Apostles,"  and  they  are  now  known  as  the  Apostle  Islands.  They  reached  the 
end  of  the  lake  to  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Duluth.  occupying  three  years 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  11 

in   their   journey.      There   the   natives    informed   them    of   a    mighty    river    far 
toward  the  setting  sun,  and  of  the  savage  tribes  that  lived  upon  its  borders. 

On  their  return,  Father  Marquette  established  the  "Mission  of  St.  Ignace," 
opposite  the  Island  of  Mackinac,  near  the  straits.  This  was  afterward  his 
rallying  point  when  in  that  vicinity,  and  there  he  labored  long  and  faithfully  for 
the  conversion  to  his  faith  of  the  natives  of  that  region.  It  was  to  him  a  labor 
of  love.  His  journeys  were  made  in  bark  canoes,  his  bed  but  the  ground  and  in 
the  open  air,  and  his  food  often  but  dry  corn,  or  the  moss  and  lichens  from  the 
trees.  It  was  a  holy  religious  enthusiasm  that  prompted  him  to  undergo  these 
many  hardships  and  privations,  and  the  great  hope  of  a  lasting  reward  when 
his  earthly  pilgrimage  was  ended. 

FATHER    MARQUETTE    AND   LOUIS    JOLIET. 

Father  Jacques  Marquette  was  a  native  of  France,  and  a  son  of  a  wealthy 
family,  who  educated  and  trained  him  for  the  priesthood.  He  was  of  a  quiet 
disposition,  but  of  strong  mind  and  character  also,  and  just  the  man  to  engage 
in  the  work  of  christianizing  and  civilizing  the  natives  of  the  Great  Northwest. 
Louis  Joliet  was  American  born,  being  a  native  of  Quebec,  his  birth  being  in 
1645.  He  was  educated  among  the  Jesuits  but  declined  to  enter  the  priesthood. 
As.  soon  as  his  education  was  completed,  believing  that  the  life  of  an  explorer 
was  better  suited  to  his  tastes,  he  was  dispatched  by  the  Canadian  authorities 
in  1669  to  explore  the  copper  mines  of  Lake  Superior,  and  the  country  to  the 
west  of  the  Great  Lakes.  Count-  Frontenac,  who  was  then  governor  of  the 
province,  confirmed  the  appointment.  Joliet  left  Quebec  in  the  fall  of  1672,  and 
arrived  at  Mackinac  on  the  8th  of  December.  Here  he  remained  until  spring 
and  it  was  at  that  time  that  he  first  met  Marquette,  the  missionary  then  in 
charge  of  the  mission  at  St.  Ignace,  on  the  north  side  of  the  straits.  He  made 
known  to  the  good  Father  his  mission  and  desired  his  companionship,  to  which 
the  Father  very  gladly  consented.  He  was  a  most  valuable  acquisition  to  the 
party,  for. he  could  speak  six  of  the  Indian  dialects,  and  his  holy  calling  proved 
him  to  be  the  peacemaker  needed,  when  trouble  with  the  natives  seemed  most 
imminent. 

The  pilgrimage  of  Marquette  and  his  companions  to  the  west  end  of  Lake 
Superior  was  a  notable  event.  The  wonderful  descriptions  of  the  great  river 
that  flowed  to  the  south,  the  vast  valley  that  bordered  it,  the  roving  tribes  of 
natives  who  lived  in  the  valley,  the  beauties  of  scenery,  and  the  endless  verdure 
with  which  it  abounded,  was  the  great  incentive  to  the  Father  to  accompany 
Joliet  in  the  hazardous  enterprise  of  visiting  the  country.  He  desired  to  view 
with  his  own  eyes  the  great  river  and  the  many  things  of  which  he  had  heard. 
It  is  to  that  journey  that  the  world  is  indebted  for  the  discovery  of  the  Missis- 
sippi and  the  valley  of  the  Illinois. 

On  the  2Oth  of  May,  1673,  Marquette  and  Joliet,  with  five  French  Can- 
adians, left  St.  Ignace  in  two  bark  canoes,  and  coasting  along  the  northern  shore 
of  Lake  Michigan,  entered  Green  Bay.  where  they  established  the  Mission  of 
St.  Francis  Xavier,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Fox  river.  Father  Marquette  called 


12  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

together  the  tribes  of  Indians  in  that  locality  and  preached  to  them  of  the  Chris- 
tian faith,  which  was  his  guiding  star  in  all  his  wanderings. 

THE  DISCOVERY   OF  THE    MISSISSIPPI. 

Having  finished  his  work  at  the  mission,  Marquette  and  his  companions 
with  two  Indians  of  the  Algonquin  tribe,  as  guides,  embarked  upon  the  waters 
of  the  Fox,  and  went  up  that  river  to  near  the  last  Indian  village,  where  there 
was  a  most  remarkable  portage,  and  where  upon  the  same  level  and  but  two 
miles  apart,  the  stream  they  had  just  left  pursued  its  way  northeastwardly  to 
the  Great  Lakes,  and  thence  to  the  Atlantic,  while  the  other  upon  which  they 
were  about  to  embark,  took  a  course  southwestwardly  to  some  unknown  destiny. 
They  crossed  the  portage  with  their  canoes  and  baggage  and  on  the  loth  of 
June  of  that  year,  embarked  upon  the  waters  of  the  Wisconsin  river,  whose 
swift  current  bore  them  onward  to  their  destination  to  the  great  river,  and  on 
the  1 7th  of  that  month,  their  eyes  beheld  for  the  first  time  the  large  and  beau- 
tiful stream  of  which  they  had  heard  so  much,  and  which  the  pious  Father  and 
his  companion  had  for  so  long  a  time  desired  to  see. 

Launching  their  canoes  upon  its  broad  surface,  its  rapid  current  bore  them 
swiftly  forward  past  bold  bluffs,  which  lined  the  stream  upon  either  hand.  Great 
herds  of  buffaloes  appearing  upon  its  banks,  viewed  the  little  flotilla  of  canoes 
with  evident  surprise.  The  rapids  of  Rock  Island  were  passed  in  safety,  while 
they  gazed  with  great  delight  upon  the  beautiful  landscape  that  everywhere  un- 
folded itself  to  their  view.  Since  leaving  the  Wisconsin,  no  human  foot-print 
had  been  seen  by  them.  It  was  a  wilderness  which  seemed  to  them  to  revel  in 
the  beauties  of  nature.  But  after  passing  the  lower  rapids,  a  footprint  was 
discovered  on  the  western  shore  and  they  stopped  to  examine  it.  Upon  follow- 
ing it  a  short  distance,  it  led  them  to  the  bank  of  another  river,  which  was 
dotted  over  with  cabins.  They  were  kindly  received  by  the  natives.  A  great 
council  was  held  and  Marquette  told  them  of  his  mission,  of  the  great  king 
across  the  water,  and  of  his  power  and  willingness  to  protect  them.  They  re- 
mained there  several  days  and  were  treated  with  the  greatest  kindness  and  hos- 
pitality. The  tribes  told  them  of  another  large  river  coming  in  from  the  north- 
west, which  they  called  Pekitanoni.  On  their  departure  the  chief  accompanied 
him  with  many  of  his  warriors  for  an  escort,  and  on  parting  presented  him  with 
the  mystic  Calumet,  beautifully  decorated,  and  instructed  him  of  the  many 
virtues  it  possessed. 

THEY    DISCOVER    THE    ILLINOIS. 

Again  their  canoes  were  pointed  south  and  they  soon  passed  the  mouth  of 
the  Illinois,  coming  from  the  east,  its  outlet  into  the  Mississippi  being  lined 
with  high  walls  of  limestone  and  the  pictured  rocks  of  Piasan,  which  are  such 
a  wonder  even  to  this  day. 

THE    MOUTH    OF    THE    MISSOURI    SEEN. 

Soon  the  swift  current  of  the  Missouri  is  discovered  behind  some  islands 
upon  the  west  side  of  the  river,  and  so  impetuous  was  the  flood  that  it  drove 
their  light  canoes  over  to  the  east  shore,  which  was  covered  with  trees  and 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  13 

vegetation  of  such  a  rank  growth  that  it  excited  their  admiration.  Some  sixty 
miles  below  the  Missouri,  the  Ohio  was  reached,  the  river  being  called  by  the 
natives  Ouabauskijon,  because  it  comes  from  the  lands  of  the  rising  sun.  Pass- 
ing this,  they  began  to  see  the  tall  canes,  or  reeds,  that  grew  in  such  profusion 
along  the  banks  of  the  river.  Before  reaching  these,  they  had  not  been  troubled 
with  insects  to  any  great  extent  but  now  having  entered  their  country,  they 
had  to  suffer  the  dire  consequences.  As  a  protection  against  these,  the  natives 
built  scaffolds  on  which  they  slept,  with  a  small  fire  beneath,  the  smoke  of  which 
kept  the  troublesome  insects  away,  and  Marquette  and  his  companions  were 
compelled  to  adopt  a  like  method  for  protection  from  their  attacks. 

THE    END    OF    THEIR    JOURNEY    SOUTH. 

At  length  they  reached  the  mouth  of  the  Arkansas  river,  below  the  thirty- 
fourth  parallel  of  north  latitude.  Here  the  natives  are  seen  with  steel  axes 
for  weapons,  but  the  pipe  of  peace  given  Marquette  by  the  Illinois  chief  is 
shown  them,  and  averts  all  possible  danger.  They  landed,  a  religious  celebration 
was  held,  and  the  faith  of  the  pious  Father  was  told  to  the  savages,  which  they 
received  with  every  evidence  of  satisfaction. 

Marquette  and  Joliet  being  convinced  that  the  river  flowed  into  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico,  or  Florida,  as  it  was  then  known  prepared  for  their  return  up 
the  river. 

To  the  meek  and  humble  Jesuit,  the  good  Father  Marquette  and  his  com- 
panion, Joliet,  is  due  the  honor  of  being  the  first  white  men  to  float  upon  the 
bosom  of  the  majestic  river.  Their  light  bark  canoe  was  the  first  to  stem  its 
current,  and  their  paddles  the  first  to  disturb  its  waters  by  any  white  men.  Set- 
tlements had  been  made  in  many  parts  of  the  east  for  many  years  but  to  those 
then  far  off  inhabitants,  no  knowledge  of  the  mighty  stream  had  ever  been  sug- 
gested to  them  and  hence  the  discovery  when  made  known  was  the  opening  of 
a  new  world.  The  natives  of  the  east  had  no  legend  or  tradition  of  the  river, 
nor  of  the  mighty  tribes  of  natives  who  inhabited  its  borders. 

MARQUETTE    AND   JOLIET    ENTER    THE    ILLINOIS. 

Marquette  and  Joliet,  with  their  companions,  toiled  for  many  a  weary  day 
up  against  the  current  of  the  rapid  stream.  Annoyed  at  times  with  insects 
and  with  but  scant  supplies  of  food,  yet  no  murmurs  of  complaint  escaped  from 
them  and  no  despondency  at  any  time  entered  their  thoughts,  ft  was  a  high 
and  holy  mission  in  which  they  were  engaged  and  therefore  they  believed 
with  the  utmost  faith  and  confidence  that  to  suffer  in  a  just  and  virtuous  cause 
was  but  the  will  of  Him  who  had  sent  them. 

When  they  again  reached  the  Illinois,  they  turned  their  course  up  that 
stream,  passed  through  a  country  of  great  fertility,  with  rich  prairies  and 
meadows  abounding  upon  either  hand.  A  great  variety  of  animals  and  birds 
were  seen  by  them,  "stags,  buffaloes,  deer,  wild  cats,  bustards,  swans,  ducks, 
paroquets  and  even  beavers."  Their  voyage  up  the  Illinois  was  in  great  con- 
trast to  that  up  the  Mississippi,  for  the  stream  had  hardly  any  perceptible  cur- 


14  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

rent  and  they  floated  along  "luxuriating  in  peace  and  plenty."  This  happy  con- 
dition continued  until  they  had  reached  the  upper  end  of  Peoria  lake,  when 
they  encountered  a  strong  and  rapid  current,  until  they  reached  the  portage 
opposite  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  at  the  point  now  known  as  the 
Summit,  a  station  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  railway.  A  monument  of  granite 
boulders  now  marks  the  spot.  Transferring  their  canoes  to  the  waters  draining 
into  the  Chicago  river,  they  were  soon  in  Lake  Michigan.  They  passed  up 
the  west  shore  to  the  mission  at  Green  Bay,  which  they  reached  the  last  day 
of  September,  1673. 

JOLIET    RETURNS    TO    CANADA. 

Louis  Joliet  returned  at  once  to  Canada  and  thence  to  France,  to  make 
known  to  his  sovereign,  the  mighty  empire  he  and  his  comrades  had  acquired 
for  his  majesty.  He  had  kept  a  full  record  of  this  most  important  journey, 
together  with  a  very  complete  map  of  the  country  they  had  explored  but  un- 
fortunately he  lost  all  while  on  his  return  to  Quebec  by  the  upsetting  of  his 
canoe,  while  attempting  to  land  at  Montreal.  Father  Marquette  had  kept  a 
very  full  record  of  the  journey  and  this  was  preserved  to  the  world  and  thus 
he  acquired  another  trophy  to  the  members  of  his  order  in  all  parts  of  the 
civilized  globe. 

This  voyage  of  Marquette  and  Joliet  up  the  Illinois  river  was,  beyond  ques- 
tion, the  first  visit  of  white  men  within  the  present  borders  of  this  state.  It  is 
quite  probable,  too,  that  the  party  when  it  reached  the  junction  of  the  Des 
Plaines  with  the  Kankakee,  passed  up  the  former  river  to  a  well  known  portage 
of  the  Indians  across  to  Lake  Michigan. 

DEATH     OF    KATHER    MARQUETTE. 

The  fate  of  the  good  and  pious  Father  after  his  return  to  Green  Bay  in 
September,  1673,  is  thus  recorded.  After  a  few  weeks'  stay  there  h  ereturned 
to  Canada.  He  had  faithfully  promised  the  Illinois  Indians  at  Peoria  lake 
that  he  would  return  to  them  but  his  health  had  been  sadly  shattered  and  he 
had  some  doubts  whether  he  could  keep  his  solemn  pledge.  He  resolved,  how- 
ever, to  try  and  devote  the  remainder  of  his  life  to  their  service.  It  was  in 
the  year  of  1674  that  he  returned  to  the  mission  of  St.  Louis  on  Peoria  lake, 
and  there  he  labored  with  the  natives,  teaching  them  his  simple  faith  and 
exhorting  them  to  lead  a  better  life.  In  the  spring  following,  he  started  on 
his  return  to  Green  Bay,  going  down  the  east  shore  of  Lake  Michigan  and  on 
the  i8th  of  May  he  entered  a  small  stream,  and  asked  to  land  that  he  might 
celebrate  mass.  Leaving  his  men,  with  the  canoe,  he  retired  a  short  distance 
and  began  his  devotions.  As  much  time  passed  and  he  did  not  return,  his  men 
went  in  search  of  him  and  found  he  was,  on  his  knees,  dead.  He  had  thus 
passed  peacefully  away  while  at  prayer.  He  was  buried  on  the  spot,  and  there 
by  the  great  lake,  upon  the  bosom  of  which  he  had  journeyed  so  many  miles, 
in  the  obscure  and  forgotten  grave,  lie  the  mortal  remains  of  the  discoverer  of 
Illinois  and  the  great  Mississippi  Valley — his  only  dirge  being  the  sad,  sullen 
moan  of  the  waters  near  which  he  sleeps  his  last  sleep. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY    v  15 

Some  writers  have  asserted  that  the  small  stream  near  which  he  died 
bears  his  name,  but  we  can  find  no  stream  on  the  east  shore  of  the  lake  bearing 
his  name,  nor  is  it  known  with  any  certainty  what  stream  is  meant. 

It  is,  indeed,  a  sad  fate  that  a  man  of  such  distinction — of  such  piety  and 
zeal,  should  find  at  last  such  a  resting  place.  He  had  devoted  for  many  years 
his  best  energies  in  the  service  of  his  Divine  Master,  ministering  to  untamed 
savages,  denying  himself  every  comfort,  even  enduring  cold,  hunger  and  ex- 
treme fatigue,  that  he  might  uplift  and  improve  the  condition  of  the  almost 
uncounted  thousands  of  degraded  humanity. 

LA    SALLE    AND    HENNEPIN. 

In  1679  Robert  de  La  Salle  and  Louis  Hennepin  began  a  voyage  up  Lake 
Erie  in  a  small  schooner  named  the  Griffin.  The  vessel  had  been  built  for  the 
purpose  assigned  and  although  of  but  sixty  tons  burden,  yet  it  was  a  ''stanch 
and  seaworthy  craft."  This  was  the  pioneer  of  all  the  vessels  upon  the  Great 
Lakes.  In  this  expedition  Chevalier  Henry  de  Tonty,  a  brave  and  intrepid 
soldier,  who  had  lost  his  right  hand  in  battle,  was  second  in  command,  and  ac- 
companying them  with  three  "barefooted,  gray  coated  friars"  of  the  mendicant 
order  of  St.  Francis. 

They  passed  up  the  lake  through  the  straits  of  Detroit,  and  thence  through 
the  river  and  Lake  St.  Clair  into  Lake  Huron.  In  that  lake  they  encountered 
heavy  storms,  so  that  they  had  much  difficulty  in  reaching  the  Straits  of  Mack- 
inac.  There  they  remained  for  some  time  and  La  Salle  built  a  fort  on  the  main 
land,  on  the  south  side  of  the  straits,  which  he  named  Michilimackinac,  and  by 
this  name  it  was  known  for  more  than  a  century.  This,  undoubtedly,  was  the 
first  fort  ever  built  by  white  men  in  the  whole  western  country. 

He  then  sailed  to  Green  Bay,  where  a  large  quantity  of  furs  had  been  col- 
lected for  him  by  the  natives.  Loading  the  Griffin  with  these  and  placing  her 
in  charge  of  a  careful  pilot  and  fourteen  sailors,  he  started  her  on  her  return  voy- 
age. The  vessel  was  never  again  heard  of.  Whether  she  and  her  crew  had 
been  swallowed  in  the  angry  waves  or  captured  by  hostile  Indians  and  destroyed 
and  the  crew  murdered,  nothing  was  ever  known.  He  then  collected  his  men, 
thirty  in  all,  and  the  three  monks  and  started  on  his  great  undertaking  of  bind- 
ing the  country  from  the  Great  Lakes  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  by  a  chain  of  forts 
to  his  sovereign,  the  King  of  France.  He  passed  down  the  shore  of  Lake  Mich- 
igan to  the  Chicago  river  and  then  by  a  portage  across  the  country,  embarked 
again  upon  the  waters  of  the  Kankakee.  Floating  down  this  by  easy  stages,  they 
entered  the  Illinois,  and  about  the  last  days  of  December  of  that  year,  reached 
a  village  of  the  Illinois  Indians.  They  were  greatly  in  need  of  food.  It  was 
the  dead  of  winter  and  the  only  game  they  had  obtained  on  their  voyage  down 
the  river  was  a  half  famished  buffalo,  found  struggling  in  the  river. 

This  Indian  village  as  described  by  Father  Hennepin  contained  about  five 
hundred  cabins  and  was  situated  on  the  bank  of  "Illinois  lake."  It  is  difficult 
to  determine  at  this  time  what  body  of  water  was  referred  to,  but  it  is  thought 
they  intended  to  describe  a  widening  of  the  river  near  the  present  site  of  the 
village  of  Utica.  in  La  Salle  county,  as  there  was  a  large  village  of  the  Kas- 
kaskias,  a  branch  of  the  Illinois  Indians,  on  a  meadow  below  that  village.  Upon 


16  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

landing,  they  found  the  cabins  all  deserted,  the  Indians,  at  the  time,  being  away 
on  hunt  for  game  farther  down  the  river.  La  Salle  and  his  companions  being 
in  want  of  food,  searched  for  it  and  found  a  large  quantity  of  corn  concealed 
in  holes  excavated  beneath  the  cabins.  Securing  a  sufficient  quantity  of  this 
for  their  use,  which  they  stored  securely  in  their  canoes,  the  party  again  em- 
barked on  their  journey  down  the  river  and  on  the  evening  of  "New  Year's 
day,"  1680,  entered  the  Peoria  lake.  This  lake  is  described  by  them  as  being 
"seven  leagues  in  length  by  one  broad,  and  the  country  on  the  borders  is  called 
Primitouri,"  by  the  natives,  meaning  the  place  where  fat  beasts  abound. 

On  the  shores  of  the  lake  they  found  large  numbers  of  the  natives  but 
they  were  gentle  and  peaceable,,  and  soon  a  friendly  intercourse  was  established 
between  them  and  the  white  men.  The  natives  rubbed  the  uncovered  feet  of 
the  monks  with  bear's  oil  and  the  fat  of  the  buffalo,  and  fed  them  with  meat, 
placing  with  much  ceremony  the  first  three  morsels  in  their  mouths,  as  a  mark 
of  great  civility. 

LA    SALLE    BUILDS    A     FORT. 

La  Salle  and  his  fellow  voyagers  spent  some  time  with  the  natives.  Some  of 
these  Indians  at  the  Lake  "Illinois"  belonged  to  the  Illinois  tribe,  and  Father 
Zenabe,  one  of  the  monks,  desired  to  remain  and  return  with  them  to  their 
village,  to  engage  in  spiritual  labors  and  "save  them  from  perdition." 

There  was  a  mission  at  the  lower  end  of  the  Peoria  lake,  established  there, 
it  is  claimed,  by  Father  Duguerre  in  1657,  and  which  remained  in  his  charge 
for  several  years,  but  it  was  abandoned  previous  to  1673,  when  Father  Marquette 
and  Joliet  passed  up  the  river,  for  neither  of  them  made  any  mention  of  it 
whatever. 

La  Salle  and  his  hardy  followers  were  much  worn  out  with  fatigue  from 
their  long  and  arduous  journeys  and  were  in  an  almost  hopeless  state  of  de- 
spondency. This  little  band  of  white  men  were  the  only  ones  in  the  whole 
valley  of  the  Mississippi,  and  surrounded  by  savages  as  they  were,  he  resolved 
to  build  a  fort  that  should  serve  to  protect  them  until  spring  and  as  a  rallying 
point  in  the  future.  This  fort  was  named  "Creve  Coeur"  or  "Broken  Heart," 
but  its  exact  location  cannot  now  be  definitely  determined,  whether  upon  the 
east  or  west  side  of  the  lake. 

LA    SALLE    RETURNS    TO    CANADA. 

Winter  passed  away  ere  the  fort  was  finished  and  the  broad  prairies  were 
again  green  with  verdure.  The  intrepid  leader  of  the  expedition  despairing  of 
receiving  reinforcements  long  since  promised  him,  resolved  to  return  to  Can- 
ada for  help  to  prosecute  his  voyage  to  the  gulf,  and  also  obtain  rigging  and 
tackle  for  a  small  vessel  they  had  commenced  building  for  their  journey  down 
the  river.  Leaving  Tonty,  one  of  his  most  faithful  followers,  in  charge  of  the 
fort,  there  to  await  his  return,  he  directed  that  Father  Hennepin,  with  two  men, 
should  proceed  down  the  Illinois  to  the  junction  with  the  Mississippi,  thence  up 
that  stream  to  discover,  if  possible,  its  source.  He  then  turned  his  face  toward 
Canada,  taking  a  new  route.  He  pursued  his  lonely  way  upon  foot  over  snow- 
banks and  ice,  with  no  provisions  but  such  as  his  gun  could  procure.  He  found 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  17 

his  way  back  to  Frontenac,  the  governor  of   Canada,  and  asked   for   further 
means  to  prosecute  his  desired  adventure. 

While  passing  Starved  Rock,  then  known  as  Le  Rocher,  or  the  Rock,  he 
was  forcibly  struck  with  the  spot  as  a  most  suitable  place  for  a  fort  and  dis- 
patching a  message  back  to  his  faithful  Tonty,  ordered  him  to  occupy  the  Rock 
for  a  fort.  There  is  probably  not  in  the  whole  Illinois  valley  a  place  more  capable 
of  defense  than  that.  It  is  160  feet  in  height,  with  three  sides  perpendicular, 
while  the  fourth  is  so  steep  that  a  few  men  could  stop  a  whole  army  when 
equipped  with  the  weapons  then  in  use. 

TONTY   OCCUPIES  "THE   ROCK." 

Tonty,  with  a  part  of  his  garrison  at  Creve  Coeur,  went  to  the  Rock  and 
at  once  engaged  in  fortifying  it,  but  while  so  engaged  he  was  alarmed  by  a  report 
of  the  revolt  of  the  men  left  at  Creve  Coeur.  He  returned  there  with  all  speed 
and  found  that  one-half  of  the  men  had  deserted,  taking  with  them  such  arms 
and  provisions  as  they  could  carry.  Tonty  had  no  alternative  but  to  leave  the 
fort  at  once  and  return  up  the  river.  Taking  with  him  Father  Gabriel  an.l 
those  of  the  men  that  were  faithful,  he  went  to  the  Indian  village  at  "Illinois 
Lake,"  where  he  remained  for  six  months,  devoting  his  time  to  teaching  the 
natives  the  use  of  firearms  and  the  construction  of  a  rude  fortification  for  their 
village. 

TONTY    RETURNS    TO    GREEN    BAY. 

Soon  after  it  was  announced  that  a  war  party  of  the  Iroquois,  numbering 
five  hundred  warriors,  was  advancing  into  their  country.  Tonty  and  a  com- 
panion, one  Zenabe  Membre,  acted  as  ambassador  between  the  town  powers, 
and  soon  the  Calumet  was  smoked  and  a  peace  arranged,  but  the  Illinois  war- 
riors considering  that  "discretion  was  the  better  part  of  valor,"  fled,  leaving 
Tonty  and  his  five  companions  alone.  Tonty  then  had  but  one  recourse  and 
that  was  to  return  as  best  he  could  to  Green  Bay.  He  left  the  village  in  an 
old  canoe,  without  any  supplies,  and  started  up  the  river  with  all  speed.  On 
the  way  up,  Father  Gabriel  was  cruelly  murdered  by  the  Kickapoo  scouts  and 
his  body  was  left  where  it  fell,  a  prey  to  the  wild  beasts.  The  remainder  of 
the  party  passed  up  the  west  shore  of  Lake  Michigan  to  the  bay,  thence  to  Mack- 
inac,  there  to  await  the  return  of  their  leader. 

HENNEPIN    STARTS    FOR    THE    GREAT    RIVER. 

Meanwhile,  Father  Hennepin  and  his  companions  soon  after  the  return  of 
La  Salle  to  Canada,  prepared  for  their  long  and  tedious  voyage  to  the  head 
waters  of  the  Mississippi.  On  the  morning  of  the  last  day  of  February,  1680, 
the  light  bark  canoe  is  pushed  from  the  shore,  the  provisions  and  arms  having 
been  carefully  stored  in  it,  and  the  three  companions  leap  into  it.  The  light 
paddles  are  seized,  and  as  they  float  down  the  swift  current,  the  good  old 
Father  Gabriel  advances  to  the  water's  edge  and  bestows  upon  the  little  com- 
pany his  parting  benediction.  They  are  once  more  upon  the  water,  bound  for — 
they  hardly  know  where,  but  this  they  know,  that  they  have  a  long  and  tedious 

Vol.  1—2 


18  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

journey  before  them — that  untold  dangers  await  them  and  that  perhaps  they 
have  looked  upon  the  faces  of  their  comrades  for  the  last  time. 

The  canoe  moved  swiftly  down  the  gentle  current,  and  Father  Hennepin, 
as  was  Marquette  before  him,  was  charmed  with  the  beautiful  country  through 
which  they  were  passing,  bestowing  upon  it  the  title  of  "The  Delight  of  America." 

The  mouth  of  the  river  was  reached  in  safety  and  they  then  beheld  with 
dismay  the  surface  of  the  great  river  filled  with  floating  ice,  a  sight  at  once 
disheartening  in  the  extreme.  They  remained  there  three  days  in  order  to  pre- 
pare for  that  hazardous  journey  up  the  mighty  river,  and  on  the  I2th  of  March, 
1680,  commenced  the  ascent,  paddling  up  the  icy  stream  for  a  month,  reaching 
the  mouth  of  the  Wisconsin,  April  I2th. 

Here  they  were  surprised  and  taken  prisoners  by  a  band  of  Chippewa  Indians, 
who  took  them  up  the  river  through  Lake  Pepin  to  the  falls,  which  he  named 
St.  Anthony,  in  honor  of  his  patron  saint.  They  remained  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  falls  for  several  weeks,  hunting  the  buffalo  and  other  game.  Hennepin,  dur- 
ing their  stay,  baptizing  many  of  the  native  children.  Their  captivity  continued 
until  fall,  when  Hennepin,  having  obtained  permission  of  the  chief  to  return 
16  Canada,  provided  him  with  a  map,  sketched  on  bark,  of  the  country  through 
which  they  were  to  pass,  their  route  being  by  way  of  the  Wisconsin  river. 

HENNEPIN    RETURNS    TO    CANADA. 

Once  more  these  hardy  adventurers  are  in  their  canoe  bound  for  home 
and  civilized  life.  Entering  the  Wisconsin,  they  paddled  up  that  stream  to 
the  portage  into  the  Fox,  thence  down  that  and  across  Green  Bay  to  Mackinac, 
reaching  there  in  November,  1680.  He  wintered  there  with  Father  Pearson, 
a  Jesuit,  and  on  the  last  day  of  March,  1681,  reembarked  on  Lake  Huron,  passed 
over  Lake  Erie  to  the  falls,  thence  by  portage  to  Lake  Ontario,  and  to  Frontenac 
and  Montreal,  and  on  the  last  day  of  April  reached  Quebec,  having  been  absent 
two  years  and  a  half. 

LA   SALLE  RETURNS  TO  ILLINOIS. 

In  the  meantime  La  Salle  had  obtained  from  the  governor  of  Canada  his 
recruits  and  supplies  and  started  on  his  return  trip  to  the  Illinois,  reaching 
which,  he  passed  down  the  river  to  the  Rock,  which  he  found  deserted,  as  was 
also  the  fort,  Creve  Coeur.  Almost  discouraged  at  what  he  there  found,  he  went 
back  to  Green  Bay,  where  he  soon  after  met  his  old  companion.  Tonty.  Once 
more  this  intrepid  man  entered  upon  his  scheme  of  discovering  the  mouth  of 
the  Mississippi.  Gathering  together  his  scanty  resources  as  best  he  could  and 
with  his  ever  faithful  Tonty  and  a  few  Frenchmen,  started  once  more  on 
his  long  and  adventurous  journey.  Tonty  and  a  few  of  the  companions  had 
preceded  him  and  they  were  to  meet  at  the  mouth  of  the  Chicago  creek.  They 
met  there,  and  as  it  was  then  winter  and  the  rivers  frozen  over,  they  prepared 
sledges  and  traveled  across  the  country  to  Peoria  lake,  which  then  being  open 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  19 

water,   they   launched   their  canoes  once  more  and  started  on   their   hazardous 
enterprise. 

LA    SALLE   DISCOVERS    THE    MOUTH    OF  THE    MISSISSIPPI. 

From  Peoria  lake  they  descended  to  the  Mississippi  and  were  then  borne 
upon  its  swift  current,  reaching  the  gulf  on  the  9th  of  April,  1682,  where  the 
necessary  forms  were  gone  through  with  and  the  whole  country  through  which 
they  had  journeyed  was  taken  possession  of  in  the  name  of  the  King  of  France. 
Hennepin  claimed  to  have  discovered  the  mouth  of  the  river  in  1680,  but  the 
claim  has  since  been  proven  to  be  a  false  one. 

LA   SALLE  AND  TONTY    RETURN   TO    ILLINOIS. 

In  the  summer  of  1683,  La  Salle  and  Tonty  returned  to  the  Illinois,  and 
caused  the  fort  on  "The  Rock"  to  be  completed  and  occupied,  and  leaving  Tonty 
in  command  of  it,  in  the  fall  of  that  year  returned  to  Quebec  and  thence  to 
France  to  lay  before  his  sovereign  his  plans  for  the  occupation  and  settlement  of 
the  vast  country  of  which  he  had  taken  possession. 

LA  SALLE'S  EXPEDITION   BY  SEA. 

In  1685  he  started  from  France  on  another  expedition  by  sea  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Mississippi,  intending  to  erect  a  fort  at  the  mouth  and  thus  possess  the 
country  in  fact.  He  met  with  many  accidents  and  disasters  and  failed  to  find 
the  mouth  of  the  river,  but  landed  far  west  of  it  in  Matagorda  Bay.  He  there 
erected  a  fort,  naming  it  Saint  Louis  and  then  attempted  to  return  to  the  Missis- 
sippi by  land.  But  the  whole  country  was  a  wilderness,  without  road  or  trail 
to  lead  them  on  their  journey,  and  the  attempt  was  a  disastrous  failure  This 
attempt  was  repeated  several  times  but  without  success. 

DEATH    OF   LA   SALLE. 

Finally,  in  1687,  in  one  of  those  attempts,  he  was  assassinated  in  a  cowardly 
manner  by  one  of  his  own  men,  who  had  a  few  days  previously  killed  with  an 
ax  three  of  his  most  faithful  followers,  one  of  them  being  his  nephew,  to 
whom  he  was  greatly  attached. 

La  Salle  did  not  speak  after  he  was  shot,  but  grasping  the  hand  of  his  only 
companion,  Father  Anastasius,  he  died  calmly,  and  his  body  was  left  where  it 
fell  to  be  devoured  by  beasts,  the  place  of  his  death  being  on  a  small  branch  of 
the  Trinity  river. 

The  spot  where  this  cruel  tragedy  occurred  has  forever  been  unknown,  al- 
though careful  search  was  made  for  it  through  many  years.  After  his  death 
the  party  went  forward  and  in  time  reached  Fort  St.  Louis  on  the  Rock.  There 
Tonty  received  them  with  open  arms  and  informed  them  that  the  year  previous 
he  had  descended  to  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  with  a  party  of  followers, 
expecting  to  find  La  Salle  there,  but  being  disappointed  he  returned  up  the  river 


20  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

and  at  the  mouth  of  the  Arkansas  built  a  fort  which  the  party  from  the  La 
Salle  expedition  saw  on  their  way  up  the  river. 

FORT    ST.    LOUIS    AT    "THE    ROCK." 

The  friendly  Indians  of  Illinois  had  gathered  around  Fort  Saint  Louis  in 
large  numbers  and  had  built  their  cabins  there  and  under  the  leadership  of 
Tonty  had  repelled  an  attack  upon  it  in  1684,  by  the  warlike  Iroquois.  This 
fort  was  then  the  seat  of  the  French  power  in  Illinois  and  it  was  considered  a 
post  of  the  highest  importance.  But  not  long  after  that  time  its  history  became 
obscure  and  the  Rock  was  not  mentioned  in  the  history  of  the  country  until 
1770,  when  the  remnants  of  the  Illinois  tribes  gathered  upon  it  to  make  their  last 
stand  and  were  almost  totally  annihilated  and  thenceforth  it  was  known  to  the 
white  settlers  as  well  as  the  Indians  as  "Starved  Rock,"  and  by  that  name  it 
has  become  one  of  the  most  celebrated  of  the  historic  spots  in  the  state. 

THE     NORTHWEST    IN     1689. 

At  the  time  of  which  we  write  there  was  not  a  single  permanent  settlement 
in  the  whole  northwest  territory.  The  forts  that  had  been  erected  by  La  Salle 
and  Tonty  were  soon  afterward  abandoned  and  their  very  sites  were  lost  in  the 
years  that  followed. 

Fort  Dearborn,  the  first  fort  built  on  the  shore  of  lake  Michigan  in  Illinois, 
was  not  built  for  more  than  a  century  later,  while  many  other  points  that  had 
become  familiarly  known  to  the  settlers  in  the  east  and  Canada  have  long  since 
gone  to  decay,  obliterated  and  lost.  Even  Fort  Michilimackinac,  at  the  Straits 
of  Mackinac,  that  had  been  built  with  so  much  care,  was  abandoned  and  the 
mission  at  St.  Ignace  on  the  north  side  of  the  straits  was  the  only  rallying 
point  for  the  few  religious  enthusiasts,  who  at  times  visited  those  shores. 

THE    GREAT    LEADERS. 

The  indomitable  spirit  and  energy  that  pervaded  the  minds  and  controlled 
the  actions  of  Father  Marquette  and  Louis  Joliet,  of  the  intrepid  La  Salle  and 
Father  Hennepin,  had  expired  when  those  great  leaders  passed  from  the  stage 
of  action,  and  henceforth  it  was  but  the  solitary  monks  and  friars,  the  voyagers 
and  traders,  who  passively  filled  the  places  left  vacant  by  the  zealous  men,  who 
first  beheld  these  fair  prairies  and  these  majestic  rivers.  The  trader  had  entered 
the  field  with  his  "firewater,"  and  that  was  dealt  out  to  the  natives  instead  of  the 
religious  faith,  the  glorious  example  and  the  earnest  love  and  good  will  of  the 
father. 

That  deadly  poison  to  the  untamed  savage  he  exchanged  for  their  buffalo 
robes,  their  beaver  skins  and  other  fine  peltries,  which  they  had  with  so  much 
labor  gathered. 

STATE  OF  ILLINOIS AREA    AND  BOUNDARIES. 

The  state  of  Illinois,  long  known  to  the  world  at  large  as  the  "Prairie 
state,"  is  situated  between  the  thirty-seventh  and  forty-second  degrees  of  north 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  21 

latitude,  north  and  south,  and  from  the  Indiana  state  line  to  the  middle  of  the 
Mississippi  river,  east  and  west,  being  385  miles  in  extreme  length  and  218  miles 
in  extreme  width,  containing  56,000  square  miles  of  land  and  including  its 
share  of  Lake  Michigan,  56,640  in  all,  or  35,840,000  acres  of  land  surface. 

It  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  state  by  act  of  congress,  which  was 
passed  April  18,  1818,  and  by  that  act  these  boundaries  of  the  state  were  fixed : 
From  the  confluence  of  the  Ohio  with  the  Mississippi  river,  at  Cairo,  up  the 
Ohio  to  the  mouth  of  the  Wabash ;  thence  ascending  that  river  to  the  meridian 
of  Vincennes,  then  in  a  straight  line  to  Lake  Michigan,  from  which  point  it 
takes  a  turn  east  along  the  northern  line  of  Indiana  to  the  middle  of  Lake 
Michigan,  thence  north  along  the  middle  of  the  lake  to  North  latitude  forty-two 
degrees  and  thirty  minutes,  thence  west  along  said  line,  which  divides  it  from 
Wisconsin  to  the  middle  of  the  Mississippi  river,  thence  down  that  river  to  place 
of  beginning. 

CONSTITUTION    ADOPTED. 

Following  this,  a  convention  was  held  in  the  village  of  Kaskaskia,  then  the 
capital  of  the  territory,  on  August  26,  1818,  when  a  state  constitution  was  adopted 
and  that  constitution  was  ratified  by  congress,  December  3d  of  that  year. 

At  the  time  of  its  admission  as  a  state,  it  had  a  population  of  about  50,000, 
having  55,211  at  the  time  the  census  was  taken  two  years  later.  The  state  was 
a  part  of  the  great  northwest  territory,  which  was  ceded  to  the  United  States 
by  Virginia  in  1784.  It  was  created  into  a  territory,  April  24,  1809,  by  act  of 
congress,  and  President  Madison  appointed  Ninian  Edwards  the  first  governor 
of  the  territory.  He  was  a  native  of  Maryland  and  was  born  in  1775,  studied 
law,  and  removed  to  Kentucky,  being  a  citizen  of  that  state  when  appointed 
governor.  He  died  at  Belleville,  Illinois,  July  30,  1833,  and  the  county  of 
Edwards  was  named  in  his  honor. 

At  the  time  of  its  formation  into  a  territory,  it  extended  from  the  Ohio  river 
to  Lake  Superior  and  included  within  its  borders  the  present  state  of  Wiscon- 
sin. The  year,  following  its  admission  as  a  territory  it  contained  a  population 
of  12,282. 

AFTER  IT  BECAME  A  STATE. 

When  admitted  as  a  state  it  contained  in  all  sixteen  counties  and  the  state 
capital  was  located  at  Kaskaskia,  a  small  village  on  the  river  by  that  name,  six 
miles  above  its  junction  with  the  Mississippi,  and  about  two  miles  from  that 
stream.  At  the  first  election  Shadrach  Bond  was  elected  governor  and  Pierre 
Menard  lieutenant  governor.  They  were  inaugurated  October  6,  1818.  The 
first  legislature  passed  a  law  removing  the  capital  of  the  state  to  Vandalia,  a 
small  town  near  the  center  of  the  state  in  Fayette  county,  and  the  government 
records  were  removed  there  in  December,  1820.  At  the  session  of  the  legislature 
at  Kaskaskia,  four  new  counties  were  formed  and  at  the  first  session  at  Van- 
dalia, in  January,  1821,  six  more  counties  were  formed,  giving  the  state  at  that 
time  twenty-six  counties. 

Among  the  last  counties  formed  was  that  of  Pike,  a  most  remarkable  as 
well  as  extensive  one,  for  it  included  within  its  borders  the  whole  northern  part 


22  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

of  the  state.  Chicago  was  then  "a  village  of  Pike  county,  situated  on  Lake  Mich- 
igan at  the  mouth  of  the  Chicago  creek,  and  contained  twelve  or  fifteen  houses, 
and  between  fifty  and  sixty  inhabitants."  The  whole  county  did  not  have  to 
exceed  2,000  white  settlers. 

THE    STATE    BANK. 

It  was  at  the  session  of  the  legislature  in  January,  1821,  that  the  law  was 
enacted  creating  a  state  bank.  It  was  to  be  located  at  Vandalia,  with  four 
branches,  namely,  at  Brownsville,  Edwardsville,  Shawneetown  and  at  the  seat 
of  justice  in  Edwards  county.  The  measure  met  with  a  very  violent  opposition 
from  some  of  the  very  best  men  in  the  state,  but  owing  to  the  then  depressed 
financial  condition  of  the  state  and  also  of  the  poor  settlers  who  were  so  heavily 
in  debt  for  their  land  and  improvements,  and  aided  by  the  many  land  sharks, 
the  bill  passed  successfully  and  became  a  law.  It  proved  exceedingly  popular 
for  a  time  and  some  $300,000  in  state  paper  was  issued  to  the  impecunious 
settlers  and  security  was  taken  upon  most  anything  offered  and  to  whoever 
wanted  it.  But  there  was  no  redemption  provided  for  the  paper  and  soon  it 
began  to  depreciate  in  value,  so  that  in  less  than  two  years  from  the  time  of 
the  passage  of  the  act  it  took  three  dollars  of  it  to  pay  one  in  debts.  The 
property  upon  which  it  was  loaned  was  in  most  instances  of  very  doubtful  se- 
curity, and  the  borrowers  were  exceedingly  dilatory  in  discharging  their  obliga- 
tions to  the  state,  and  the  result  was  in  five  years  the  state  had  lost  a  quarter 
of  a  million  dollars. 

One  of  the  most  vigorous  of  the  opponents  to  the  bank  was  John  McLean, 
then  speaker  of  the  house  of  representatives,  and  so  violent  was  the  fight  he 
made  against  it,  though  defeated,  yet  a  grateful  people  realizing  his  worth  and 
his  eminent  ability  as  a  statesman,  elected  him  United  States  senator  and  his 
name  is  perpetuated  in  the  history  of  the  state,  for  the  great  county  of  McLean 
was  named  after  him. 

FIRST  EVENTS   IN   THE   HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE. 

The  first  county  formed  in  the  state  was  that  of  St.  Clair,  in  1790.  It  occupied 
the  extreme  southern  point,  extending  up  both  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers, 
the  Illinois  being  its  northern  boundary.  Soon  after,  the  county  was  divided 
into  St.  Clair  and  Randolph. 

The  first  cabin  built  by  a  white  man  within  the  borders  of  the  state,  as  it 
now  is,  was  that  built  by  Father  Marquette,  early  in  the  winter  of  1674,  on  the 
site  of  the  present  city  of  Chicago.  It  was  located  near  the  Chicago  creek,  now 
known  as  the  south  branch  of  the  Chicago  river,  and  was  occupied  by  him 
until  the  following  spring.  That  was  the  first  home  of  any  white  man  in  the 
state. 

The  first  fort  built  in  the  state  was  that  built  by  La  Salle  in  the  winter  of 
1679,  and  which  he  named  Creve  Coeur.  Father  Hennepin  in  his  records  at  the 
time  says  it  was  built  "on  the  east  side  of  the  river  on  a  little  mound."  And 
from  the  best  information  that  can  be  obtained  at  the  present  day,  it  was  located 
at  what  is  known  at  the  present  time  as  Wesley  City,  in  Tazewell  county,  some 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  23 

five  miles  down  the  river  from  Peoria  lake.  A  monument  has  been  erected  on 
the  spot  where  it  stood  by  the  Peoria  Chapter  of  the  Daughters  of  the  Amer- 
ican Revolution. 

The  first  railroad  in  the  state  was  one  built  by  ex-Governor  Reynolds  in 
1837,  from  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  East  St.  Louis,  eastward  across  the 
American  bottoms  to  the  bluffs,  some  six  miles  distant.  These  bluffs  contained 
large  quantities  of  coal,  and  the  object  of  the  building  of  the  railroad  was  to 
get  the  coal  to  the  market  in  St.  Louis.  It  was  for  a  while  a  horse  power  road, 
horses  being  used  to  draw  the  cars,  but  later  iron  rails  were  shipped  there  from 
Pittsburg  and  on  their  arrival  holes  were  drilled  in  them.  The  blacksmiths 
made  the  spikes  to  fasten  them  down,  small  engines  drew  the  cars  back  and 
forth,  and  thus  the  first  Illinois  railroad  became  a  reality. 

The  first  white  persons  to  behold  the  fair  beauties  of  the  state  or  tread 
upon  its  soil  were  Father  Marquette  and  Louis  Joliet,  who,  on  their  memorable 
voyage  down  the  Mississippi  river  in  1673,  landed  at  the  Indian  village  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Illinois  river.  There  have  been  statements  and  surmises  of  white 
men  having  visited  the  Illinois  country  previous  to  that  time  but  there  is  little 
or  no  certainty  of  their  having  done  so. 

The  first  legal  execution  in  the  state  was  in  1821.  It  was  the  result  of  what 
was  intended  as  a  sham  duel  between  Alonzo  C.  Stuart  and  Timothy  Bennett. 
It  was  known  to  all  that  it  was  meant  for  a  hoax  on  Bennett,  and  when  they 
met  they  were  placed  forty  yards  apart,  with  rifles,  as  supposed,  loaded  only 
with  powder.  But  when  Bennett  fired  his  rifle,  he  lodged  a  ball  in  the  breast 
of  Stuart,  killing  him  instantly.  The  grand  jury  of  St.  Clair  county  indicted 
Bennett,  but  when  the  sheriff  went  to  arrest  him,  he  could  not  be  found.  He 
had  left  the  state.  He  remained  away  two  years,  when  he  returned  and  was 
arrested.  He  was  tried  by  the  circuit  court  of  the  county,  found  guilty  by  the 
jury  and  sentenced  to  be  hung.  On  Monday,  September  3,  1821,  the  execution 
took  place.  It  was  shown  at  the  trial  that  Bennett  had  secretly  placed  a  ball 
in  his  rifle,  and  he  therefore  paid  the  penalty  of  his  crime  on  the  gallows. 

The  first  "American  schoolmaster"  in  the  state  was  one  John  Seeley,  who 
taught  a  school  in  1683  at  a  place  called  New  Design,  near  where  Cahokia  was 
afterward  founded,  but  it  was  continued  only  for  a  few  months. 

The  first  newspaper  ever  published  in  the  state  was  that  begun  by  Mathew 
Duncan,  at  Kaskaskia,  September  6,  1814,  named  the  "Illinois  Herald."  It  was 
not  very  long  lived  but  it  was  the  beginning  of  the  great  newspaper  fraternity  in 
Illinois  that  has  since  been  such  a  dominant  factor  in  molding  and  shaping 
public  opinion  upon  all  important  events  in  the  history  of  the  state.  There  are 
now  more  than  seventeen  hundred  newspapers  and  periodicals  published  in  the 
state,  and  these  have  an  incalculable  effect  upon  the  public  and  private  life  of 
the  five  million  inhabitants  of  the  state. 

THE  ABORIGINES    OF  ILLINOIS. 

At  the  time  of  the  discovery  and  exploration  of  Illinois,  it  was  in  possession 
of  the  natives  who  had  held  it  from  time  immemorable.  They  were  savages 
in  every  sense  of  the  word,  with  hardly  a  good  redeeming  trait  of  character. 


24  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

They  were  cruel,  selfish,  brutal  in  the  extreme,  and  never  made  friends  unless 
it  was  to  their  advantage  to  do  so.  Their  government  was  tribal  and  each  chief 
a  petty  tyrant.  Their  religion  a  mere  superstition,  a  blind  worship  of  some,  to 
them,  undefined  Great  Spirit  or  Manitou,  they  were  without  learning  or  knowl- 
edge of  the  great  world  around  them.  They  had  no  definite  knowledge 
of  property  or  human  rights,  nor  did  they  care  for  any.  They  lived  in 
tepees  or  rude  cabins,  and  were  clothed  only  with  the  skins  of  beasts  they  had 
killed  in  the  chase.  Their  arms  and  implements  were  of  the  rudest  sort,  made 
from  stone,  wood  and  the  bones  of  the  buffalo.  They  were  ruthless  and  re- 
vengeful in  the  extreme,  as  well  as  lazy  and  horribly  dirty.  Their  only  object 
in  life  was  to  procure  food,  which  they  devoured  like  gluttons,  and  to  subdue 
and  scalp  their  enemies. 

The  tribes  inhabiting  the  Illinois  country  and  who  were  generally  the  "Illinois 
Indians,"  were  the  Illinois  or  "Illini,"  Miamis  and  Kickapoos.  These  all  belonged 
to  the  Algonquin  family,  while  the  Kickapoos,  including  the  Cahokias,  Tamaroas, 
Peorias,  and  Mitchigamies,  from  whom  lake  Michigan  was  named,  were  gener- 
ally classed  as  Illinois  Indians. 

The  Illinois  at  the  time  of  Father  Marquette's  and  Louis  Joliet's  entry  into 
the  state  in  1673,  had  as  their  possessions,  from  Lake  Michigan  and  Des  Plaines 
and  Kankakee  rivers,  down  the  Illinois  to  the  Mississippi  and  thence  to  the  con- 
fluence of  that  stream  with  the  Ohio.  Their  principal  localities  were,  how- 
ever, in  the  central  and  northern  portions  of  what  afterward  became  the  state, 
where  they  had  in  all,  seventeen  villages.  The  largest  of  these  and  which  was 
to  them  their  metropolis,  was  on  the  Illinois  river,  at  the  place  heretofore  de- 
scribed as  "Illinois  Lake."  This  village  was  called  by  the  French  La  Vantum, 
but  by  the  Indians,  Kaskaskia,  as  that  tribe  was  the  chief  inhabitants  of  it.  It 
had  in  1680,  from  the  best  information  that  could  be  obtained,  some  8,000  in- 
habitants. The  chief  village  of  the  Peorias  was  located  at  Peoria  lake,  while 
the  Tamaroas  and  Cahokias  had  their  villages  below  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois 
river,  nearly  opposite  St.  Louis. 

The  Illinois  Indians  claimed  that  their  name  meant  as  implied,  "Superior 
Men."  Yet  the  French  missionaries  asserted  that  they  were  not  in  any  way 
or  manner  different  from  the  other  tribes;  that  while  they  were  generally  tall 
and  robust,  swift  runners,  good  archers,  proud,  and  at  times  affable,  yet  they 
were  "idle,  revengeful,  jealous,  cunning,  dissolute  and  thievish."  They  lived  on 
beans,  Indian  corn,  many  kinds  of  roots,  fruits  and  nuts,  fish  and  game. 

The  Illinois  country  to  its  fullest  extent  was  beautiful  and  productive, 
abounding  in  the  finest  game,  and  it  was  not  at  all  surprising  that  such  a  country 
should  be  coveted  by  the  surrounding  tribes.  The  Sioux  from  the  west,  the 
Pottawatomies  from  the  north,  and  the  warlike  Iroquois  from  the  far  east,  each 
made  hostile  excursions  and  raids  into  the  country  and  were  determined  to 
possess  it. 

Prior  to  1673  frequent  raids  had  been  made  into  it  and  they  were  generally 
successful.  In  one  of  these  raids,  however,  through  the  heroism  of  an  Indian 
woman,  they  were  compelled  to  acknowledge  a  most  signal  defeat.  The  narra- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  25 

tive,  as  told  soon  after  the  event)  is  an  interesting  chapter  on  female  prowess 
and  bravery  worthy  of  any  people,  and  in  any  age. 

A  BRAVE   SQUAW. 

The  Iroquois  had  attacked  a  village  upon  the  banks  of  a  river,  and  had  suc- 
ceeded in  driving  out  the  inhabitants  with  great  slaughter.  A  young,  courageous 
and  patriotic  squaw  of  the  tribe,  named  Watch-e-kee  (the  orthography  of  which 
has  been  changed  to  Watseka),  learning  that  their  enemies  were  then  exulting 
over  their  victory  and  rioting  upon  the  spoils  secured  in  the  village,  urged  her 
tribe  to  take  advantage  of  the  situation  and  attack  them  in  return.  But  the 
warriors,  smarting  under  the  sense  of  their  recent  defeat,  refused  to  respond  to 
her  urgent  call.  She  pointed  out  to  them  the  darkness  of  the  night  and  the 
almost  certain  chances  of  a  successful  surprise.  The  "Braves"  still  refusing, 
she  called  for  volunteers  from  among  the  squaws,  urging  upon  them  that  death 
in  battle  was  preferable  to  torture  and  captivity,  which  might  be  their  fate  on 
the  morrow.  The  squaws  came  forward  in  great  numbers  and  offered  to  follow 
their  brave  leader.  Seeing  the  determination  of  their  wives  and  daughters, 
the  braves  became  ashamed  of  their  cowardice,  and  inspired  with  a  valor  they 
had  not  lately  exhibited,  rushed  to  arms.  A  plan  of  attack  was  speedily  ar- 
ranged and  the  Iroquois  being  taken  unawares  in  turn,  suffered  a  most  over- 
whelming defeat.  The  stream  near  which  this  sanguinary  defeat  took  place 
was  called  the  "Iroquois,"  as  has  been  the  county  through  which  it  flows,  while 
to  the  county  seat  has  been  given  the  name  of  the  heroic  Indian  maiden,  who 
so  bravely  compassed  the  overthrow  of  her  enemies. 

THE    INDIANS    AND    THE    FRENCH. 

When  the  French  came  into  the  country  they  were  received  not  only  with- 
out opposition  but  with  much  friendliness.  Their  arms  and  equipments  for  war 
they  saw  with  a  great  advantage  and  they  were  not  slow  in  accepting  them.  The 
priests  were  made  welcome  for  the  reason  that  they  came  in  the  name  of  peace, 
and  that  was  what  they  desired. 

The  two  nations,  though  so  entirely  unlike  in  habits  of  life,  civilization, 
training  and  disposition,  readily  united  on  a  common  ground,  hunted  and  traded 
together  and  eventually  many  of  them  married  and  lived  together. 

THE    IROQUOIS    AGAIN    RAID   THE    ILLINOIS. 

In  1680  the  Iroquois  and  their  allies  to  the  number  of  some  six  hundred 
braves,  attacked  the  Indian  village  at  La  Vantum,  and,  it  is  said,  killed  twelve 
hundred  of  them  and  then  drove  the  rest  beyond  the  Mississippi  river.  But  in 
1684,  the  French  having  fortified  the  rock,  since  known  as  "Starved  Rock,"  and 
placed  a  strong  garrison  there,  many  of  the  Indians  returned  and  placed  them- 
selves under  the  protection  of  the  French.  The  Iroquois  attacked  them  there 
and  with  the  aid  of  the  French,  they  were  repulsed  by  the  Illinois  with  great 
slaughter.  That  was  the  last  raid  the  Iroquois  ever  made  into  the  Illinois  coun- 


26  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

try.  The  fort  at  the  Rock  was  abandoned  in  1700  and  from  that  time  until  the 
total  annihilation  of  the  Illinois  Indians  at  the  Rock,  in  1769,  no  mention  is  made 
of  it  in  history. 

THE   FRENCH   AT  KASKASKIA. 

The  French  established  a  military  post  at  Kaskaskia,  near  the  river,  about 
the  year  170x3,  and  the  Kaskaskia  Indians  learning  of  the  fact  removed  thither, 
that  being  their  village  and  home  for  many  years.  They  were  useful  to  as  well 
as  dependent  upon  the  whites,  and  therefore  they  got  along  very  well  together. 
In  1736  a  numbering  of  the  scattered  tribes  of  the  Illinois  was  made,  and  they 
were  found  to  be  about  six  hundred  in  all  and  these  were  but  the  remnants  of 
the  many  thousands  that  once  roamed  the  prairies  and  hunted  the  buffalo  and 
deer,  as  lords  of  the  soil. 

THE    LAST  OF   THE   ILLINOIS. 

The  Illinois  were  charged  with  being  concerned  in  the  death  of  Pontiac  at 
Cahokia,  and  the  friends  of  that  chieftain  then  rallied  to  their  destruction. 
They  were  hunted  from  place  to  place  about  the  country  until  they  made  their 
final  stand  upon  the  Rock,  and  then  their  sun  set  in  eternal  darkness.  After 
gaining  the  Rock,  they  held  out  for  twelve  days,  defying  hunger  and  thirst, 
beset  upon  all  sides  by  their  cruel  enemies,  until  at  last  rendered  desperate 
by  their  condition,  they  made  a  desperate  sortie,  resolved  to  sell  their  lives 
as  dearly  as  possible,  but  only  one  of  the  number,  a  half  breed,  escaped  to  tell 
the  tale.  And  thus  perished  the  large  tribe  of  the  Illinois  Indians,  which,  with 
the  exception  of  the  solitary  warrior,  became  extinct.  Judge  Caton,  in  his  work 
"Last  of  the  Illinois,"  fixes  the  number  at  eleven  that  escaped.  The  Rock  has 
been  known  since  that  date  as  "Starved  Rock." 

ILLINOIS    CEDED    TO    THE    UNITED    STATES. 

In  1803  a  treaty  was  made  with  the  few  remaining  Indians  upon  the  Illinois 
territory  by  which  they  surrendered  to  the  general  government  all  their  lands 
in  the  territory  and  they  were  soon  afterward  removed  to  the  Indian  Territory, 
where  they  took  the  name  of  "Peorias,"  and  in  1885  numbered  one  hundred  and 
forty-nine.  They  are  reported  by  the  commissioner  of  Indian  affairs  to  be 
"for  the  most  part  an  active,  well-to-do  race  of  farmers,  who  live  in  comfortable 
frame  houses." 

THE    NORTHERN     INDIANS. 

In  the  extreme  northern  part  of  the  Illinois  territory  were  a  few  remnants 
of  tribes,  once  numerous  and  powerful  but  their  frequent  wars  with  the  neigh- 
boring tribes  had  reduced  their  numbers  until  there  remained  but  a  handful  of 
warriors  to  rally  at  the  call  of  their  chief.  The  Miamis,  a  warlike  tribe,  were 
located  on  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Michigan  and  on  the  St.  Joseph  river. 
They  were  originally  allied  to  the  Illinois  but  separated  prior  to  1673,  and 
thereafter  they  were  most  bitter  enemies. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  27 

The  Pottawatomies  were  scattered.  A  portion  of  the  tribe  were  in  northern 
Michigan.  Still  another  portion  were  in  northern  Ohio,  while  still  another 
were  located  in  the  Illinois  territory,  north  of  the  Kankakee  and  Des  Plaines 
rivers,  and  west  of  the  territory  of  the  Miami  and  Sacs  and  Foxes.  The  name 
signifies,  "we  are  making  a  fire,"  hence  the  other  natives  called  them  "Firemak- 
ers."  They  are  described  as  being  tall,  fierce  and  haughty,  fond  of  hunting 
and  war  and  were,  previous  to  their  meeting  with  the  French,  the  most  numerous 
and  powerful  of  all  the  northwestern  tribes.  They  were  ever  friendly  with 
the  whites  but  in  the  war  of  1812  united  their  fortunes  with  Tecumseh.  After 
the  death  of  that  warrior  they  ceded  their  lands  to  the  government  and  removed 
beyond  the  Mississippi. 

The  Kickapoos  were  first  found  near  the  source  of  the  Fox  river,  in  Wis- 
consin, by  Father  Allouez  in  1670.  They  afterward  fought  their  way  south 
to  the  Vermilion  and  Sangamon  rivers,  where  they  remained  for  more  than 
one  hundred  years.  Their  villages  were  on  the  Vermilion  and  other  streams  in 
that  portion  of  the  territory.  They  were  fierce  and  warlike,  unwilling  to  mix 
with  other  tribes,  and  ever  hostile  to  the  whites,  never  would  have  aught  to  do 
with  them.  They  would  rove  over  the  country  in  small  bands  and  swoop  down 
upon  the  unprotected  settlements  of  the  whites,  murdering  or  taking  captive 
all  who  were  to  be  found,  kill  their  cattle  and  make  off  with  their  horses  before 
any  alarm  could  be  given.  They  finally  ceded  their  lands  and  removed  from  the 
country  to  Texas  and  Mexico. 

The  Sacs  and  Foxes,  called  by  the  French  Outagamies,  were  first  found  in 
1666  near  Green  Bay,  and  numbered  some  four  hundred  warriors.  They  were 
a  restless  and  discontented  tribe,  always  at  war  with  their  neighbors,  never  ally- 
ing or  holding  any  trade  or  barter  with  them.  In  truth  it  was  said  of  them 
that  "they  were  the  Ishmaelites  of  the  lakes,  their  hands  against  every  man, 
and  every  man's  hand  against  them."  They  often  made  raids  down  into  the 
country  of  the  Illinois  for  the  purpose  of  plunder.  They  some  time  afterward 
established  themselves  on  the  Rock  river  and  there  they  remained  until  the 
Black  Hawk  war,  when  they  removed  from  the  territory  with  the  rest  of  the 
Indians  that  allied  themselves  with  that  chieftain  in  his  war  upon  the  white 
settlers. 

OTHER    TRIBES. 

There  were  other  small  tribes  scattered  through  the  northwest  but  located 
outside  the  Illinois  territory  and  hence  not  of  interest  in  this  history.  What  few 
are  now  left  of  these  tribes  of  natives  are  now  the  "Nation's  Wards,"  and  so  re- 
moved are  they  from  our  doors  that  but  few  of  the  people  of  the  present  day 
ever  see  one.  They  have  passed  from  our  view.  Their  ancient  hunting  grounds 
are  now  occupied  by  the  agriculturist,  who,  with  his  well  tilled  farm,  can  but 
wonder  at  the  great  progress  that  has  been  made  in  the  country  since  these 
lords  of  the  soil  trod  these  prairies,  or  paddled  their  light  canoes  upon  the  bosoms 
of  our  rivers. 

A  noted  orator,  in  speaking  of  the  fast  disappearance  of  the  Indian  tribes 
of  the  country,  said:  "Here  and  there  a  stricken  few  remain  but  how  unlike 
their  untamed,  untamable  progenitors.  The  Indian  of  the  falcon  glance,  the 


28  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

lion  bearing,  the  theme  of  a  touching  ballad,  the  hero  of  the  pathetic  tale  is 
gone,  and  his  degraded  offspring  crawl  upon  the  soil,  where  he  once  walked  in 
majesty  to  remind  them  how  miserable  is  man  when  the  foot  of  the  conqueror 
is  on  his  neck.  As  a  race,  they  have  withered  from  the  land.  Their  arrows 
are  broken,  their  springs  are  dried  up,  and  their  cabins  are  in  the  dust.  Their 
council  fires  have  long  since  gone  out  on  the  shores  and  their  war  cry  is  fast 
dying  in  the  outtrodden  west  and  they  will  soon  hear  the  roar  of  the  last  wave 
that  will  settle  over  them  forever." 

THE  FRENCH    MISSIONARIES. 

To  the  French  is  due  the  first  permanent  settlement  in  the  Illinois  country. 
The  French  missionary,  with  the  explorer  and  the  trader,  entered  the  field  hand 
in  hand,  the  latter  protecting  the  former,  while  the  former  in  return  aided  the 
latter  in  making  peace  with  the  natives.  The  Jesuits  were  all  powerful  with  the 
government  of  Canada,  and  therefore  controlled  the  sale  of  the  "firewater" 
dealt  out  so  liberally  to  the  natives,  fixed  the  price  of  peltries,  and,  in  fact,  ruled 
the  settlement  with  a  despotic  sway. 

The  early  history  of  Illinois  is  derived  wholly  from  the  letters,  records  and 
narratives  of  the  missionaries,  who  first  entered  this  wilderness  in  search  of 
converts  to  their  faith.  The  explorers  and  traders  as  a  rule  were  wholly  in- 
capable of  writing  any  intelligent  account  whatever  of  their  discoveries,  while 
the  priests  were  educated,  ready  with  the  pen  and  always  used  it  to  their  own 
advantage.  To  them,  therefore,  we  are  indebted  for  almost  everything  we  know 
of  the  early  history  of  Illinois. 

After  the  decease  of  Father  Marquette  upon  the  banks  of  a  small  stream 
on  the  east  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  in  1675,  Father  Claude  Jean  Allouez  was 
the  most  distinguished  of  the  early  missionaries.  He  was  a  native  of  France 
and  came  first  to  Canada  in  1658,  where  he  labored  for  twelve  years  establishing 
missions  in  that  province  and  various  points  on  the  northern  lakes,  among  which 
was  that  of  St.  Ignace,  at  the  Straits  of  Mackinac. 

After  the  demise  of  Father  Marquette,  he  was  selected  to  complete  the 
mission  at  Kaskaskia  village  at  "Illinois  lake."  He  arrived  there  April  27, 
1677,  and  erected  a  cross  of  wood,  twenty-five  feet  in  height,  and  preached  to 
the  tribes  there  assembled.  He  remained  there  and  in  that  vicinity  until  1684, 
when  he  returned  to  Green  Bay.  He  died  at  Fort  Joseph  on  the  southeast 
shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  in  1690. 

Father  Jacques  Gravier  was  the  next  priest  to  care  for  that  mission.  He 
labored  there  and  among  the  Peorias  until  1699,  when  he  was  recalled  to  Mack- 
inac. In  1700  he  started  on  a  voyage  down  the  Mississippi.  The  year  follow- 
ing he  returned  and  for  a  while  labored  with  the  Peorias.  Here  he  was  severely 
injured  by  an  assault  made  upon  him  at  the  instance  of  the  medicine  men,  and 
died  of  his  injuries  in  1706.  Since  Marquette,  he  was  one  of  the  most  zealous 
and  faithful  of  the  fathers.  Not  long  after  this,  the  mission  among  the  Peorias 
was  discontinued.  At  least  there  is  no  reliable  record  of  its  existence.  The 
natives  had  scattered,  many  of  them  going  to  and  joining  the  mission  at  Cahokia, 
then  called  "Tamaroa."  That  was  about  the  year  1700,  for  Father  Gravier  in 
the  journal  of  his  voyage  down  the  Mississippi  in  that  year,  mentions  the  fact 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  29 

of  his  stopping  there  and  visiting  them.  From  that  time  until  1741  many 
priests  were  sent  into  the  country  and  labored  long  and  earnestly,  with  varied 
success.  Their  great  obstacle  in  the  work  was  "firewater,"  brought  into  the 
country  by  the  traders  and  dealt  out  by  them  to  the  natives  with  a  liberal  hand. 
They  would  exchange  their  peltries  for  that  when  nothing  else  would  be  an 
inducement  to  part  with  them. 

It  was  in  the  year  1741  that  the  feeling  of  hostility  to  the  Jesuits  was  started 
in  Europe,  which  was  carried  out  with  extreme  bitterness  for  many  years,  so 
that  in  1764  the  order  was  issued  banishing  them  from  the  country.  Illinois  had 
then  been  ceded  to  Great  Britain  but  that  availed  nothing,  the  vestments  and 
vessels  of  the  Jesuit  chapels  being  seized  by  the  "King's  attorney,"  and  the 
chapels  leveled  to  the  earth.  The  priests  were  soon  sent  down  the  river  to 
New  Orleans  and  from  there  to  France.  The  order  of  banishment  to  the 
priests  was  a  gross  injustice  to  the  priests,  as  well  as  a  gross  violation  of  the  pre- 
cepts of  Christian  charity.  It  was  a  profanation  of  the  Christian  worship  and 
a  ruthless  and  cruel  revenge  inflicted  upon  the  men  who  had  labored  so  long 
and  arduously  for  the  improvement  of  the  native  races  of  America. 

The  priests  with  one  exception,  were  all  expelled  from  the  whole  northwest 
territory  and  he  was  allowed  to  remain  only  on  condition  that  he  must  not  inter- 
fere in  any  way  in  the  religious  matters  of  the  country.  The  settlements 
throughout  the  entire  Illinois  country  were  abandoned,  except  at  Cahokia  and 
at  Kaskaskia,  and  they  were  only  tolerated  as  trading  posts  for  the  few  inhabi- 
tants who  had  settled  in  that  vicinity. 

FIRST   SETTLEMENTS. 

The  first  permanent  settlement  made  in  Illinois  was  at  Kaskaskia,  about  the 
year  1700.  The  village  was  located  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river  of  that  name, 
and  between  that  and  the  Mississippi,  and  about  two  miles  from  the  latter.  The 
present  city  of  Chester,  where  the  southern  penitentiary  is  located,  is  seven 
miles  below  the  old  site.  It  flourished  with  varied  fortunes  for  nearly  two  hun- 
dred years  until  the  Father  of  Waters  cut  a  channel  above  it  across  the  country 
into  the  Kaskaskia,  making  the  site  an  island.  The  river  then  gradually  washed 
away  the  island,  taking  the  farms  and  gardens,  until  but  little  of  it  now  remains. 
The  village  was  removed  several  years  ago  to  a  site  on  higher  ground.  The  vil- 
lage was  for  more  than  a  century  the  capital  of  the  territory  and  was  the  first 
capital  of  the  state,  when  it  was  admitted  into  the  Union  in  1818.  The  old  ceme- 
tery, located  near  the  village,  in  which  the  pioneer  dead  had  for  two  centuries 
been  buried,  being  in  danger  of  being  washed  away,  the  legislature  in  1891  ap- 
propriated $10,000  for  the  removal  of  the  dead  buried  there.  Twenty  acres  of 
land  on  a  hill  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  was  purchased  and  the  bones  and  re- 
mains of  thirty-eight  hundred  were  gathered  into  as  many  boxes,  taken  to  the 
new  cemetery  and  there  reinterred.  The  most  of  them  were  marked  "un- 
known." The  present  village  of  Kaskaskia  is  located  on  the  east  side  of  that 
river,  about  two  miles  from  its  former  site. 

CAHOKIA    FOUNDED. 

Cahokia  claims  to  have  been  founded  at  about  the  same  time  as  Kaskaskia 
and  some  writers  have  asserted  that  it  was  settled  in  1695  but  there  is  no  au- 


30  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

thority  for  the  assertion.  No  doubt  there  were  priests  and  traders  there  and  at 
times  large  numbers  of  the  natives  but  no  permanent  settlement  was  made  there 
until  about  the  year  1700.  It  was  located  on  the  Mississippi,  some  ten  miles 
below  the  present  city  of  East  St.  Louis.  The  place  was  never  else  but  a  small 
village  of  some  two  hundred  inhabitants.  It  was  the  village  visited  by  Father 
Gravier  when  he  went  on  his  voyage  down  the  Mississippi  in  1700. 

FORT    CHARTRES. 

In  the  year  1718  Fort  Chartres  was  built  by  a  French  company  upon  the 
east  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  in  what  is  now  the  county  of  Randolph.  It  was 
located  four  miles  west  of  the  village  of  Prairie  du  Rocher  and  twenty-two  miles 
northwest  of  Kaskaskia.  When  first  built,  it  was  enclosed  with  a  stockade  but 
later  a  substantial  stone  wall,  sixteen  feet  high  was  built,  the  wall  enclosing  about 
four  acres  of  ground.  Within  the  enclosure  were  barracks,  stables,  store  houses, 
etc.  It  was  well  supplied  with  guns  and  ammunition  and  was  considered  at  the 
time  as  the  most  impregnable  fortress  in  the  whole  country.  The  erection  of  the 
fort  greatly  favored  the  settlements  and  particularly  Cahokia  and  Kaskaskia. 
so  that  the  latter  became  a  very  important  post  and  was  the  headquarters  for 
the  whole  Illinois  country.  In  1725  it  became  an  incorporated  town  and  the  king 
of  France  granted  its  inhabitants  a  commons,  or  pasture  grounds  for  their  stock. 

Fort  Chartres  was  abandoned  in  1772,  through  the  encroachment  of  the 
river  upon  its  walls  and  the  garrison  and  property  were  removed  to  Kaskaskia. 

AN   INDIAN   MASSACRE. 

The  settlements  of  southern  Illinois  flourished  and  large  numbers  of  French 
immigrants,  both  from  France  and  Canada,  came  into  the  country  and  estab- 
lished fine  homes,  cultivated  the  rich  lands,  and  peace  and  prosperity  were  every- 
where visible.  But  a  terrible  calamity  befell  the  inhabitants  upon  the  28th  of 
November,  1729.  The  Natchez  and  Choctaw  tribes  at  the  south  became  jealous 
of  the  whites  and  the  progress  they  had  made,  and  therefore  resolved  to  wipe 
out  the  last  vestige  of  French  encroachment  in  the  west.  Upon  that  date  they 
fell  upon  the  peaceful  inhabitants  with  fearful  slaughter,  murdering  some  seven 
hundred  males,  and  taking  all  the  females  and  children  captives. 

As  soon  as  the  massacre  became  known,  dispatches  were  sent  to  France  for 
troops  and  supplies  of  ammunition  to  endeavor  to  recover  the  captives,  if  pos- 
sible. In  the  meantime  the  natives  that  were  friendly  to  the  French  were  in- 
duced to  go  upon  the  war  path,  and  soon  some  twelve  hundred  warriors  were 
gathered  together  and  set  forward  against  the  murderers.  The  Natchez  were 
still  at  their  carousals,  unaware  of  the  danger  that  awaited  them.  The  friendly 
natives,  led  by  the  French,  attacked  the  enemy  and  a  great  slaughter  ensue'd, 
gaining  a  great  victory.  Not  long  after,  the  French  troops  arrived,  completing 
the  victory  and  releasing  the  prisoners.  The  larger  part  of  the  Natchez  and 
Choctaw  Indians  fled  across  the  Mississippi  but  were  followed  by  the  troops 
and  large  numbers  of  them  killed,  four  hundred  being  taken  prisoners  and  sent 
south  to  New  Orleans  and  then  to  Jamaica,  where  they  were  sold  as  slaves. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  31 

That  was  the  last  massacre  upon  Illinois  soil  until  the  massacre  at  Fort  Dear- 
born in  the  war  of   1812. 

A   GALLANT  DEED. 

It  was  during  the  war  of  the  American  Revolution  that  George  Rogers  Clark, 
a  young  Virginian,  performed  a  most  gallant  deed,  which  enrolled  his  name  for- 
ever among  the  noble  heroes  who  performed  such  heroic  acts  of  valor  in  the  early 
settlement  of  the  great  west.  Young  Clark  applied  to  Patrick  Henry,  then  gov- 
ernor of  Virginia,  for  troops,  arms  and  supplies,  with  which  he  intended  to  ob- 
tain possession  of  the  British  outposts  in  the  Illinois  territory  and  thus  strike 
a  blow  at  the  British  power  in  the  great  northwest.  Clark  had  been  active  in 
some  military  operations  against  the  Indians  in  Kentucky,  just  previous  to  the 
war  and  had  gained  a  most  splendid  reputation  in  the  gallant  deeds  there  per- 
formed. Governor  Henry  cordially  approved  of  the  enterprise  as  planned  by 
Clark,  and  issued  orders  at  once  for  the  necessary  troops  and  equipments.  He 
was  commissioned  a  lieutenant  colonel  in  the  Virginia  militia  and  given  twelve 
hundred  pounds  in  the  depreciated  currency  of  the  state,  with  which  to  pur- 
chase supplies  necessary  for  such  an  expedition  and  authorized  to  enlist  three 
hundred  and  fifty  men.  His  instructions  from  the  governor  were  very  explicit 
in  every  detail.  He  enjoined  upon  Colonel  Clark  generosity  and  humanity  in 
dealing  with  the  enemy,  which  was  in  striking  contrast  to  that  adopted  by  the 
British,  who  were  then  paying  bounties  to  the  savages  for  scalps  of  the  women 
and  children  of  the  rebels,  as  they  called  the  Americans. 

Colonel  Clark  raised  but  a  part  of  the  men  necessary  for  the  expedition  but 
rather  than  wait  for  more,  resolved  to  proceed  with  those  he  had.  He  proceeded 
to  Fort  Pitts  and  then  embarked  upon  the  Ohio;  After  starting  on  the  voyage 
down  the  river,  Colonel  Clark  informed  the  men  that  the  object  of  the  expedition 
was  to  take  Kaskaskia,  then  the  only  stronghold  in  the  Illinois  territory.  He 
landed  on  a  small  island  in  the  river,  opposite  where  Louisville  now  stands, 
where  he  erected  a  fort  to  protect  his  base  of  supplies.  Everything  being  in 
readiness,  on  June. 24,  1778,  he  left  the  island  with  but  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
three  men  and  floated  down  the  river  to  Fort  Massac,  opposite  the  mouth  of 
the  Tennessee  river.  Here  they  landed,  and  hiding  their  boats  in  a  small  stream 
near  the  fort,  with  but  two  guides  he  started  overland  for  Kaskaskia,  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  miles  distant.  The  country  was  a  wilderness  and  the  little  army 
depended  almost  wholly  for  subsistence  upon  the  game  found  in  the  country. 
They  arrived  in  the  vicinity  of  Kaskaskia  on  the  afternoon  of  July  4th,  and 
having  obtained  a  very  good  description  of  the  village  and  fort,  divided  their 
forces  into  three  companies,  and  when  darkness  had  set  in,  started  for  the  fort. 
The  attack  was  a  complete  surprise  and  the  town  and  fort  were  taken  without 
the  shedding  of  a  drop  of  blood.  The  commandant  of  the  place  had  nicknamed 
the  Virginians  "Long  Knives,"  and  when  the  troops  entered  the  town,  that  was 
the  cry  from  the  inhabitants  on  every  hand.  Kaskaskia  contained  at  that  time 
some  two  hundred  and  fifty  houses,  and  hence  was  quite  a  large  village  for  that 
part  of  the  country  to  have.  Order  having  been  restored  in  the  town,  Colonel 
Clark  then  started  for  Cahokia  and  reached  there  before  the  town  had  heard  of 
the  taking  of  Kaskaskia.  It  was  then  taken  without  resistance  and  thus  the 


32  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

gallant  colonel  had  become  the  conqueror  of  the  whole  territory,  of  which   he 
came  in  possession  in  the  name  of  his  state,  and  patron  in  the  enterprise. 

On  the  23d  of  November,  1778,  the  Virginia  house  of  delegates  passed  a  vote 
of  thanks  to  Colonel  Clark  and  his  brave  "little  army"  for  the  very  important 
services  they  had  rendered  their  state. 

COLONEL   CLARK    TAKES    VINCENNES. 

After  arranging  the  affairs  for  the  government  of  the  territory,  he  started 
across  the  country  to  Vincennes  to  obtain  possession  of  a  British  post  at  that 
place.  As  it  was  a  surprise  to  the  garrison  in  the  place  it  was  easily  taken  and 
held,  and  thus  the  last  British  post  in  the  whole  northwest  was  wrested  from 
British  control.  Soon  after  the  Virginia  house  of  delegates  organized  the  whole 
country  taken  possession  of  by  Colonel  Clark,  into  a  county  and  named  it  Illi- 
nois. This  included  all  the  country  north  and  west  of  the  Ohio  to  the  Mississippi. 

DEATH    OF   COLONEL   CLARK. 

Colonel  Clark  served  in  several  campaigns  in  the  west  with  great  gallantry 
and  after  the  attempt  at  betrayal  by  the  traitor,  Arnold,  he  enlisted  in  the  Con- 
tinental army  and  served  under  Baron  Steuben  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and 
independence  was  gained.  His  later  life  was  passed  in  private  and  as  age  ad- 
vanced he  suffered  from  rheumatism  contracted  from  exposure  in  his  many 
campaigns.  He  died  at  Locust  Grove,  near  Louisville,  in  1818,  and  his  remains 
were  deposited  near  the  river  that  forms  the  southern  boundary  of  the  land  he 
was  so  instrumental  in  recovering  to  his  state  and  the  nation. 

The  memory  of  Colonel  Clark  is  perpetuated  in  the  state  where  his  gallant 
deeds  are  so  well  remembered  and  appreciated,  for  the  year  following  his  death, 
the  legislature  of  the  new  state  gave  his  name  to  a  county  then  formed  and  a  few 
years  later  when  the  infant  city  by  the  great  lake  took  form,  one  of  the  first 
streets  settled  and  named  was  Clark  street,  now  one  of  the  leading  business 
streets  in  the  great  metropolis  of  the  west. 

THE  ORDINANCE  OF    1787. 

July  13,  1787,  congress  passed  an  act  entitled  "Ordinance  of  1787"  for  the 
government  of  the  great  northwest  territory,  ceded  by  Virginia  to  the  United 
States  three  years  before.  That  act  was  the  law  of  the  land  and  regulated  not 
only  the  government  of  the  territory  but  made  special  provisions  regarding  in- 
heritances, descents,  wills,  conveyances,  sales,  etc.,  saving,  however,  to  the  French 
and  Canadian  inhabitants  their  laws  and  customs.  The  law  provided  for  a  gov- 
ernor, secretary  and  three  judges,  and  the  governor  and  judges  had  the  power 
to  make  the  laws  for  the  territory,  subject  to  the  approval  or  disapproval  of 
congress. 

The  governor  was  all  powerful  and  ruled  the  territory  at  will,  subject  only  to 
the  ordinances,  and  as  congress  dictated  from  time  to  time.  Not  less  than  three 
nor  more  than  five  states  were  to  be  formed  in  the  territory.  The  boundaries 


•PROPERTY  OF  REV.  JOHN  W.  RICE.  MEDORA 

One  of  the  first  houses  in  Medora.  built  in   1835.     The  south  halt"  is  of  logs  and  the  house 
is  now  occupied. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

Of  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  33 

of  each  st'ate  were  fixed,  though  no  names  were  given  to  them.  They  were 
designated,  however,  as  the  Eastern,  now  Ohio,  the  Western,  now  Illinois,  the 
Northwestern,  now  Wisconsin,  the  Northern,  now  Michigan,  and  the  Middle 
State,  now  Indiana. 

It  provided,  further,  that  there  should  be  ''neither  slavery  nor  involuntary 
servitude,"  except  as  a  punishment  for  crimes  but  provided  for  the  return  of 
fugitives  to  the  original  states  when  such  service  or  labor  could  be  lawfully 
claimed.  It  was  that  latter  provision  that  in  after  years  led  so  much  to  the  mak- 
ing of  history  upon  the  subject  of  slavery  and  resulted  in  placing  Illinois  as  a 
prominent  factor  in  the  settlement  of  the  question,  as  results  show.  But  the 
most  important  article  in  the  ordinance  and  the  one  that  the  people  of  these  five 
great  states  should  be  forever  grateful  to  the  f ramers  for,  was  as  follows :  "Re- 
ligion, morality  and  knowledge  being  necessary  to  good  government,  and  the  hap- 
piness of  mankind,  schools  and  the  means  of  education,  shall  forever  be  en- 
couraged." That  was  the  great  bulwark  of  the  liberties  of  the  country  and  upon 
that  the  foundation  was  built,  the  splendid  system  of  education  which  has  ever 
been  the  great  leading  feature  in  the  settlement  of  the  country,  and  which  has 
certainly  placed  Illinois  in  the  van  of  modern  civilization. 

THE   FIRST   GOVERNOR. 

General  Arthur  St.  Clair  was  the  first  territorial  governor,  with  his  head- 
quarters or  seat  of  government  at  Marietta,  Ohio.  He  was  born  in  Scotland  and 
served  with  distinction  in  the  French  and  Indian  wars,  also  in  the  Revolution,  and 
had  been  in  public  life  so  much  that  he  became  identified  with  the  interests  of 
the  west  to  that  extent,  which  made  his  appointment  most  appropriate  and  sat- 
isfactory to  the  people. 

PROTESTANTISM   IN   ILLINOIS. 

In  1790  the  white  population  of  Illinois,  in  round  numbers,  was  about  2,000. 
A  year  or  two  previous  to  that,  James  Smith,  a  Baptist  minister,  came  to  New 
Design,  a  small  village  in  Monroe  county,  and  commenced  his  labors  and  that 
is  placed  by  historians  as  the  beginning  of  Protestantism  in  the  state.  In  1793, 
one  Joseph  Lillard,  Methodist  missionary,  arrived  there  and  from  that  time 
forward,  Protestantism  became  an  important  factor  in  the  religion  of  the  state. 

ILLINOIS  A  PART  OF  INDIANA. 

From  1787  to  1809,  Illinois  was  a  part  of  Indiana  Territory,  but  in  the  latter 
year  it  was  formed  into  a  territory  by  itself,  as  before  stated  in  this  work.  This 
territory,  which  was  created  to  commence  its  existence  on  the  first  day  of  March 
in  that  year,  embraced  the  tract  west  of  the  Wabash  river  and  north  to  Canada. 

AN    EARTHQUAKE. 

November  II,  1811,  an  earthquake  occurred,  which  caused  great  fear  among 
the  then  scattered  hamlets  of  the  territory  and  especially  in  the  American  bottom 


34  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 


along  the  Mississippi  river,  where  chimneys  were  thrown  down,  houses  damaged 
and  bells  rung.  This  was  the  first  earthquake  mentioned  in  the  history  of  the 
state  and  pretty  much  the  last,  although  slight  tremblings  have  since  been  felt. 

THE  MAMMOTH. 

There  was  a  time  when  the  mammoth  and  mastadon  roamed  these  prairies 
in  great  numbers  and  their  bones  were  often  to  be  found  in  the  marshy  places 
where  they  had  become  mired,  or  had  gone  to  drink.  At  what  time  this  was, 
is  a  mystery.  The  Illinois  knew  nothing  of  them,  nor  had  they  even  a  tradition 
of  any  such  an  animal. 

But  there  is  one  thing  certain,  and  that  is,  that  people  lived  here  at  the  same 
time  those  huge  animals  did.  In  exhuming  the  bones  of  one  of  them  near  Beards- 
town  several  years  ago,  an  arrow  head  and  the  broken  point  of  a  copper  spear 
were  found  among  the  bones,  showing  that  the  animal  came  to  its  death  by  the 
hand  of  man.  Another  skeleton,  standing  erect,  was  found  in  a  marsh.  A  fire 
had  been  kindled  against  its  sides,  and  ashes,  pieces  of  charred  wood,  arrow 
heads  and  stone  axes  were  found  with  the  bones.  It  is  the  theory  that  it  became 
mired  in  the  mud  and  was  then  attacked  and  killed  by  the  natives. 

A  short  distance  from  Peoria  lake,  numerous  bones  were  found  in  the  early 
settlement  of  the  county.  The  place  was  a  salt  lick  and  quite  marshy.  Some  of 
the  bones  were  of  immense  size,  showing  the  animal  in  life,  at  least  fifteen  feet 
in  height  and  twenty-two  in  length.  The  largest  elephant  of  the  present  day 
would  be  but  a  pigmy  in  comparison  with  it. 

THE    ILLINOIS   RIVER. 

The  Illinois  river  from  its  junction  with  the  Des  Plaines  and  Kankakee  is 
two  hundred  and  sixty  miles  in  length,  exclusive  of  its  many  windings,  and 
two  hundred  and  ten  miles  of  it  are  navigable  'for  steamboats.  It  is  a  sluggish 
stream  with  only  twenty-eight  feet  fall,  nearly  all  of  which  is  above  Peoria 
lake.  The  mouth  of  the  river  where  it  enters  the  Mississippi  is  twelve  miles 
wide  between  the  bluffs,  and  when  that  river  is  high,  it  backs  up  the  Illinois 
seventy-two  miles.  The  bottom  lands  along  the  river  are  very  fertile  but  much 
of  them  are  overflowed,  especially  since  the  drainage  canal  from  Chicago  to  Joliet 
was  opened. 

The  scenery  along  the  river  is  beautiful,  the  stream  being  dotted  along  its 
whole  course  with  innumerable  islands,  some  of  which  are  quite  large.  The 
first  fort  ever  built  in  the  Illinois  country  was  upon  the  banks  of  the  stream,  as 
was  also  the  first  Catholic  mission.  It  was  a  favorite  stream  with  the  natives, 
its  sluggish  current  being  just  the  place  for  their  light  bark  canoes.  At  a  later 
period  the  Mackinaw  boat  of  the  American  Fur  Company,  took  the  place  of  the 
canoe  and  was  used  until  navigation  by  steam  supplanted  it. 

A    FARMER    MECHANIC. 

An  anecdote  is  related  of  an  old  farmer  down  in  Monroe  county  by  the  name 
of  James  Lemon.  He  was  one  of  the  old  sort  of  Baptist  preachers,  but  an  ex- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  35 

cellent  man  and  just  the  right  sort  to  settle  up  a  new  country,  for  he  was  quite 
a  mechanical  genius  and  made  all  his  tools  used  on  his  farm,  even  his  harness 
for  his  horses.  The  collars  he  made  of  straw  or  corn  husks,  which  were  plaited 
and  sewed  together  by  himself.  Being  engaged  in  plowing  a  piece  of  stubble 
ground  and  having  turned  out  for  dinner,  he  left  the  harness  on  the  beam  of  his 
plow.  His  son,  a  wild  youth,  who  was  employed  with  a  pitch  fork  to  clean  the 
plow  of  the  accumulated  stubble,  stayed  behind  and  hid  one  of  the  horse  collars. 
This  he  did,  that  he  might  rest  while  his  father  made  a  new  collar.  The  old 
man  returning,  soon  missed  the  collar  and  after  reflecting  a  few  moments,  very 
much  to  the  disappointment  of  the  truant  son,  pulled  off  his  leather  breeches, 
stuffed  the  legs  of  them  with  the  stubble,  and  then  straddled  them  upon  the 
horse's  neck  for  a  collar,  proceeding  with  his  plowing  as  bare  legged  as  when  he 
came  into  the  world. 

INSTRUCTING  A  JURY. 

In  some  of  the  trials  by  jury  in  southern  Illinois  at  an  early  day  the  judges 
had  some  very  queer  experiences.  In  a  certain  trial,  the  judge,  when  he  came 
to  instruct  the  jury  as  to  the  law,  gave  his  instructions  to  them  on  the  part  of 
the  learned  judge.  The  instructions,  however,  were  sound  and  very  much  to  the 
point.  Still  the  jury  could  not  agree  on  a  verdict  and  therefore  returned  to  the 
court  room.  The  judge  asked  the  jury  the  reason  why  they  could  not  agree, 
when  the  foreman  answered  with  great  apparent  honesty  and  simplicity,  "Why 
judge,  this  'ere  is  the  difficulty.  The  jury  want  to  know  whether  that  'ar  you 
told  us  when  we  first  went  out  was  r'al'y  the  law,  or  only  just  your  notion." 
The  judge,  of  course,  informed  them  that  it  was  really  the  law  and  they  soon 
found  a  verdict  accordingly. 

THE  WAR  OF  l8l2. 

Of  course  the  war  of  1812  reached  Illinois  and  was  severely  felt  in  several 
localities.  War  was  declared  by  President  Madison,  June  i8th,  and  August  i5th 
following  occurred  "the  massacre  at  Fort  Dearborn,  on  the  Chicago  river.  The 
fort  had  been  erected  by  the  government  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  in  1804,  and 
was  occupied  by  a  small  garrison  under  Captain  Heald,  as  commandant.  The 
garrison  consisted  of  seventy  men  and  in  the  fort  were  quite  a  number  of  women 
and  children.  Orders  were  issued  for  the  evacuation  of  the  fort  and  on  that  day 
all  marched  out,  but'  they  had  only  gone  a  short  distance  when  they  were  attacked 
by  a  large  body  of  savages  and  nearly  all  murdered. 

Steps  were  at  once  taken  to  suppress  the  Indian  uprising  and  avenge  the 
bloody  deed  and  an  expedition  was  planned  to  attack  a  considerable  number  of 
the  savages  at  Peoria  lake.  The  expedition,  however,  proved  a  failure  and  only 
some  of  the  native  villages  were  burned.  The  year  following  another  campaign 
was  undertaken  to  Peoria,  where  another  fort  was  built  and  named  "Fort  Clark" 
in  honor  of  Colonel  George  Rogers  Clark.  The  soldiers  scoured  the  country, 
driving  the  Indians  before  them  but  no  general  engagement  took  place. 

In  1814  a  force  was  sent  te  Rock  Island  under  Major  Campbell,  where  an 
engagement  with  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  took  place  without  any  definite  result. 
Later  in  the  same  year,  Major  Zachary  Taylor  (afterward  president  of  the 


36  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

United  States),  also  went  to  Rock  Island  and  had  an  engagement  with  the 
Indians  and  the  British. 

Toward  the  end  of  that  year  hostile  operations  began  to  slacken  and  in 
the  summer  of  1815  peace  was  restored  between  the  United  States  and  the 
Indian  tribes  of  the  northwest,  and  the  settlers  of  the  state  enjoyed  comparative 
peace  and  quiet  for  many  years,  there  being  no  further  trouble  with  the  natives 
until  1832,  when  Black  Hawk  stirred  up  the  spirit  of  revenge  in  the  Indian 
breast  and  sought  to  drive  the  white  settlers  from  the  state. 

The  soldiers  in  the  war  of  1812  were  given  bounties  in  the  lands,  which  are 
known  as  the  Military  tract,  which  extended  between  the  Mississippi  and  Illi- 
nois rivers,  from  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois,  northward  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
nine  miles. 

ILLINOIS  FROM    1815  TO   l8l8. 

The  territory  from  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812  to  the  time  of  its  admission 
into  the  Union  as  a  state,  continued  to  improve  and  increase  in  population,  and 
the  territorial  laws  were  well  and  faithfully  administered.  The  population  in 
1815  was  estimated  at  about  16,000  but  when  admitted  as  a  state,  as  heretofore 
stated,  it  was  about  50,000,  showing  a  degree  of  prosperity  seldom  equalled  in 
so  remote  a  territory.  On  the  i6th  of  September,  1805,  there  were  five  counties 
in  the  territory  and  the  governor,  by  proclamation  ordered  an  election  to  be  held 
for  six  councilmen  and  six  representatives,  one  of  each  for  each  county.  Gal- 
latin  was  apportioned  two  of  each.  They  were  to  meet  at  Kaskaskia,  then  the 
seat  of  the  territorial  government,  on  the  loth  of  November.  The  election  was 
held  as  directed  and  all  met  at  the  appointed  time,  all  of  the  twelve  being  boarded 
at  one  house  and  lodged  in  one  room. 

ONE    ILLITERATE    MEMBER. 

Among  the  members  assembled  was  one  John  Grammar,  from  Johnson 
county.  This  was  his  first  appearance  in  public  life.  He  had  no  education, 
could  neither  read  nor  write,  and  yet  he  was  a  man  of  much  natural  shrewdness. 
He  knew  nothing  of  legislation  or  laws  and  so  he  adopted  a  rule  to  vote  against 
every  new  measure  that  came  up  for  passage,  whether  good  or  bad,  he  deeming 
it  easier  to  conciliate  his  constituents  by  voting  against  a  good  measure  than 
by  voting  for  a  bad  one.  He  wore  the  most  unique  and  original  clothing  of  any 
of  the  members  and  for  that  matter,  it  was  probably  the  most  original,  as  well  as 
odd,  suit  that  any  member  of  a  public  body  has  worn  since  that  time.  Not  hav- 
ing suitable  clothing  to  wear  to  the  legislature,  it  is  recorded  of  him  that  he  and 
his  family  gathered  a  quantity  of  hickory  nuts.  These  he  took  to  the  Ohio  salines 
and  traded  for  blue  stranding,  such  as  the  Indians  wore  for  breech  cloth.  When 
the  women  of  the  neighborhood  got  together  to  make  the  cloth  into  garments, 
they  found  it  very  scant  and  so  they  decided  to  make  a  bob  tailed  coat  and  knee 
pants,  with  long  leggings.  Arrayed  in  this  primitive  suit,  he  appeared  at  the 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  37 

seat  of  government  and  attended  the  daily  sessions  as  though  arrayed  in  broad- 
cloth and  fine  linen. 

THE   LAWS    PASSED. 

The  most  of  the  laws  passed  by  this  legislature  were  good  and  beneficial  and 
some  of  them  were  so  popular  that  they  were  reenacted  by  the  new  state  after 
it  was  admitted  to  the  Union.  But  there  were  some  laws  passed  that  were  bar- 
barous in  the  extreme.  Punishment  of  crimes  and  misdemeanors  was  by  whip- 
ping on  the  bare  back,  confinement  in  the  stocks,  standing  in  a  pillory  and 
branding  with  a  hot  iron.  These  several  punishments  were  ordered  administered 
by  the  court  that  tried  the  culprit.  The  number  of  stripes  that  could  be  inflicted 
was  from  ten  to  five  hundred.  It  was  not  the  worst  that  received  the  most  stripes 
by  any  means.  For  instance,  burglary  and  robbery  were  punished  with  not 
exceeding  thirty-nine,  while  for  bigamy  three  hundred  could  be  inflicted.  An- 
other law  was  passed,  placing  a  bounty  of  fifty  to  one  hundred  dollars  for  the 
killing  of  an  Indian  warrior  or  the  taking  of  a  squaw  or  child  captive. 

TRADE  AND  COMMERCE. 

Commerce  at  that  time  was  in  its  infancy.  All  foreign  goods  and  articles  not 
produced  in  the  territory  were  brought  from  New  Orleans  by  way  of  the  river 
in  keel  boats,  pushed  up  against  the  current  by  long  poles  with  the  most  severe 
labor,  and  towed  around  the  points  with  long  ropes.  The  only  other  way  they  had 
of  obtaining  goods  was  by  wagons  over  the  Allegheny  mountains  from  Philadel- 
phia to  Pittsburg,  thence  in  flat  boats  down  the  Ohio  and  landed  at  convenient 
points,  then  taken  in  wagons  and  carried  where  wanted.  The  trip  down  the 
Mississippi  and  back  took  fully  six  months,  while  that-  east  required  at  least 
three. 

.     THE  FIRST  STEAMBOAT. 

The  first  steamboat  to  ascend  the  Mississippi  to  St.  Louis  was  the  General 
Pike,  and  that  was  August  2,  1817.  Agriculture  was  the  principal  pursuit  of 
the  people  during  territorial  times  but  hunting  and  trapping  were  followed  in  win- 
ter by  nearly  all.  There  were  few  merchants  and  they  only  kept  such  articles 
as  were  mostly  needed  by  the  settlers.  Tea,  coffee  and  sugar  were  but  little 
used  and  seldom  to  be  found  in  the  stores.  Coarser  goods  for  clothing  and 
articles  indispensable  to  the  housekeeper,  were  usually  kept.  Cabins  were  built 
without  glass,  nails,  locks  or  hinges,  and  the  furniture  was  manufactured  in  the 
same  rude  fashion.  The  settlers  all  learned  to  make  what  was  needed  for  use 
and  that  answered  all  purposes. 

EDUCATION. 

We  have  already  alluded  to  the  provision  in  the  ordinance  of  1787  regarding 
free  schools  and  the  constitutional  convention  that  met  in  Kaskaskia  in  1818  to 
form  the  first  constitution.  Inserted  in  that  first  organic  law  of  the  state  the 
very  letter  as  well  as  the  spirit  of  the  provision  for  free  schools  and  the  act 
of  congress  that  enabled  the  territory  to  prepare  for  statehood,  provided  that 


38  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

section  16  in  every  township  in  the  state  should  be  "for  the  use  of  schools."  It 
also  provided  that  five  per  cent  of  the  net  proceeds  from  the  sale  of  public  lands 
in  the  state  should  be  divided,  two-fifths  of  which  should  be  devoted  to  the 
making  of  roads  and  three-fifths  to  the  cause  of  education.  Those  provisions 
were  accepted  by  the  state  and  became  the  basis  of  our  present  school  system. 
Thus  with  every  settlement  a  provision  was  made  for  a  public  school,  and  al- 
though funds  were  low  and  often  hard  to  obtain,  yet  the  "schoolmaster"  was 
abroad  in  the  land  from  the  very  beginning  of  the  state  government. 

STATE    SUPERINTENDENT    OF    SCHOOLS. 

In  1854  the  law  was  passed  creating  the  office  of  state  superintendent  of 
schools  and  also  for  a  complete  system  of  free  schools. 

The  State  Normal  University  was  established  by  law  in  1857,  being  located 
some  two  miles  north  of  Bloomington.  The  purpose  for  which  it  was  established 
was  "to  qualify  teachers  for  the  common  schools  of  the  state."  The  constitu- 
tion of  1870  gave  the  legislature  power  to  "provide  a  thorough  and  efficient  sys- 
tem of  free  schools,  whereby  all  the  children  of  this  state  may  receive  a  good 
common  school  education." 

THE    FIRST  GOVERNOR. 

We  have  already  alluded  to  the  election  of  Shadrach  Bond  as  the  first  gov- 
ernor, the  act  removing  the  state  capital  from  Kaskaskia  to  Vandalia,  and  of  that 
establishing  the  state  bank. 

The  total  revenue  of  the  state  for  the  year  1818  was  but  $7,510.44.  It  was 
during  his  administration  that  the  first  steps  were  taken  to  construct  the  Illinois 
and  Michigan  canal,  though  but  little  was  done  except  the  recommendation  of 
Governor  Bond  that  some  steps  should  be  taken  for  the  construction  of  such  a 
waterway. 

In  1822  Edward  Coles  was  elected  governor  and  held  the  office  until  1826. 
During  his  administration  the  state  was  seriously  embarrassed  by  its  financial 
conditions  brought  upon  it  by  the  state  bank  and  some  attempt  was  made  to 
remedy  the  difficulty,  but  without  much  success. 

The  governor  in  his  first  message  also  recommended  the  importance  of  a 
great  waterway  from  the  Great  Lakes  to  the  Mississippi  river,  and  by  act  of 
the  legislature,  January  17,  1825,  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal  was  incorporated 
but  nothing  further  was  done  in  the  matter. 

Almost  every  measure  recommended  by  Governor  Coles  was  so  bitterly  op- 
posed even  by  his  own  party,  that  but  little  benefit  accrued  to  the -state  during 
his  administration. 

December  6,  1826,  Ninian  Edwards  was  inaugurated  governor  and  it  was  dur- 
ing his  administration  that  an  appropriation  was  made  for  the  erection  of  a 
penitentiary  at  Alton.  The  act  was  passed  and  work  begun.  January  20,  1826, 
the  act  incorporating  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal  was  repealed  and  thus  the 
first  chapter  in  the  construction  of  that  work  was  ended.  The  great  objection 
to  the  act  was  that  the  state  should  construct  the  canal  instead  of  it  being  con- 
structed by  a  private  company. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  39 

Educational  interests  were  greatly  advanced  during  Governor  Edwards'  ad- 
ministration, by  the  establishing  of  several  higher  institutions  of  learning.  In 
1827  John  M.  Peck,  a  Baptist  minister,  built  a  two-story  frame  house  about  half 
way  between  Lebanon  and  O'Fallon,  which  he  named  "The  Rock  Spring 
Theological  Seminary  and  High  School,"  and  that  was  the  beginning  of  Shurt- 
leff  College,  now  located  at  Upper  Alton.  McKendree  College  was  established 
three  miles  east  of  the  Rock  Spring  institution,  in  the  village  of  Lebanon  where 
it  is  still  flourishing.  Illinois  College  at  Jacksonville  is  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
that  period  and  has  been  one  of  the  great  institutions  of  learning  of  the  state. 

The  population  of  the  state  in  1830  was  157,445,  nearly  three  times  what  il 
was  before. 

December  9,  1830,  John  Reynolds  was  inaugurated  governor.  He  favored 
the  construction  of  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal  and  the  finishing  of  the  peni- 
tentiary at  Alton. 

It  was  during  his  administration  that  the  county  of  Cook  was  formed,  January 
15,  1831,  and  that  was  the  beginning  of  Will  county,  as  it  was  taken  from 
that  county  in  1836. 

Joseph  Duncan  was  inaugurated  governor  December  3,  1834.  In  his  mes- 
sage to  the  legislature  he  strongly  urged  the  construction  of  the  canal  to  connect 
Lake  Michigan  with  the  Illinois  river,  as  well  as  a  general  system  of  internal 
improvements.  The  charter  of  the  old  state  bank  at  Shawneetown  was  revived 
and  a  new  one  granted.  In  1837  the  capital  stock  of  the  bank  was  $2,000,000, 
the  whole  to  be  subscribed  for  the  state  by  the  fund  commissioners,  an  execu- 
tive body  of  the  internal  improvement  system.  The  bank  had  six  branches  but 
it  was  short  lived.  Like  its  predecessor  it  succumbed  to  the  inevitable  in  1842 
and  that  was  the  last  of  the  state  banks. 

DEATH  OF  LOVEJOY. 

In  1837  occurred  the  tragedy  at  Alton,  resulting  in  the  death  of  "the  first 
martyr  to  liberty,"  Elijah  P.  Lovejoy.  He  was  born  in  Albion,  Kennebec 
county,  Maine,  November  9,  1802.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  entered  Water- 
ville  College,  and  after  graduating  removed  to  St.  Louis.  'A  year  or  two  later 
he  became  editor  of  the  St.  Louis  Times  and  advocated  the  election  of  Henry 
Clay  for  the  presidency.  In  1833  he  issued  the  first  number  of  the  St.  Louis 
Observer,  a  religious  newspaper.  In  his  new  labors  as  editor,  he  incurred  the 
ill  will  of  the  Catholic  church  by  some  articles  he  wrote,  opposing  the  laying  of 
the  corner  stone  of  a  Catholic  church  on  Sunday.  From  that  expression  of 
opinion  regarding  what  he  termed  the  desecration  of  the  Sabbath  with  "proces- 
sions, firing  of  guns  and  unseemly  displays,"-  came  the  persecutions  that  after- 
ward followed  the  man  and  finally  terminated  in  his  death.  His  opponents  char- 
acterized him  as  an  abolitionist  and  charged  that  all  his  outspoken  expressions 
regarding  the  Catholics  came  from  his  bitter  opposition  to  slavery.  So  bitter 
was  the  feeling  against  him  in  St.  Louis  that  he  was  compelled  to  remove  his 
paper  and  printing  establishment  to  Alton,  and  it  arrived  there  July  21,  1836. 
It  was  on  Sunday  when  the  press  reached  its  destination,  and  Mr.  Lovejoy  pro- 
posed to  leave  it  on  the  wharf  until  Monday.  That  night  a  mob  went  to  the 


40  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

wharf,  broke  the  press  into  pieces  and  threw  it  into  the  river.  A  new  press  was 
obtained  and  for  nearly  a  year  he  published  his  paper  with  varying  fortunes,  but 
a  mob  entered  his  office,  destroyed  the  press  and  threw  it,  with  the  type,  into  the 
river.  He  had  frequently  been  warned  as  to  what  course  he  should  pursue  in  the 
publication  of  his  paper  but  being  a  free  born  citizen,  contended  "free  speech" 
was  his  natural  free  born  right  and  continued  in  his  course  without  the  least 
swerving  from  the  course  he  had  adopted.  A  new  press  was  ordered  but  when 
it  arrived  it  was  broken  up  by  the  mob  and  consigned  to  the  river  with  its  pred- 
ecessors. A  fourth  press  was  then  ordered  and  the  mob  openly  defied.  The 
press  arrived  and  was  temporarily  stored  in  a  stone  warehouse  and  sixty  of  the 
citizens  of  the  town  volunteered  to  defend  it.  November  7,  1837,  a  demand  was 
made  for  the  press  and  the  demand  denied.  One  of  the  mob  attempted  to  climb 
a  ladder  with  a  torch  to  set  the  roof  of  the  warehouse  on  fire  but  was  shot  by 
one  of  the  defenders.  Soon  after,  Lovejoy  went  out  of  the  building  to  see  that 
no  more  such  attempts  were  made  and  was  shot  by  the  mob,  five  bullets  entering 
his  body.  The  guard  having  lost  their  leader  then  surrendered  the  press  and 
it  soon  followed  its  three  predecessors  into  the  bed  of  the  Mississippi  river.  Thus 
ended  the  first  tragical  fight  against  the  institution  of  slavery,  and  the  first  vic- 
tim to  fall  was  Elijah  P.  Lovejoy,  but  he  was  not  the  last  to  fall  in  the  cause,  by 
many  thousands. 

An  act  was  passed  at  the  same  session  for  a  general  system  of  internal  im- 
provements. This  was  such  an  extravagant  measure  that  Governor  Duncan  re- 
fused to  give  it  his  approval  but  the  legislature  passed  it  over  his  head  and  it  be- 
came a  law.  $10,250,000  was  appropriated,  all  of  which  ultimately  proved  a 
total  loss  to  the  state,  as  not  one  of  the  works  was  ever  completed.  Among 
the  works  projected  were  nine  railroads,  while  nearly  every  river  of  any  size  in 
the  state  was  included  in  the  bill  to  be  improved. 

Thomas  Carlin  was  inaugurated  governor  of  Illinois  in  1838.  His  policy 
was  to  foster  internal  improvements  in  every  way  possible.  Bonds  to  the 
amount  of  $12,000,000  had  been  issued  by  the  state  for  the  improvements  voted 
at  the  last  legislature  but  as  no  interest  was  paid  on  them,  they  were  soon  of 
little  value  and  the  work  ordered  had  been  commenced  but  it  was  found  im- 
possible to  carry  it  on  and  so  it  was  abandoned.  Edward  Smith,  a  member 
of  the  house  from  Wabash,  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  internal  improve- 
ments and  he  portrayed  in  glowing  colors  the  great  benefits  that  would  accrue 
to  the  state  to  carry  forward  the  grand  system  of  improvements  as  begun  and 
contemplated,  and  such  was  the  hold  his  report  had  upon  the  members  that  they 
were  ready  to  vote  for  any  amount  required  to  carry  forward  every  work  asked 
for  in  the  state.  The  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal  was  not  included  in  the  mad 
schemes  and  the  work  on  that  proceeded  without  delay.  Mr.  Smith  died  before 
the  next  meeting  of  the  legislature  and  with  him  died  all  the  grand  improve- 
ments contemplated  by  him. 

THE    MORMONS. 

In  the  year  1839  a  sect  settled  in  Hancock  county  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
Mississippi  river  and  started  a  town,  which  they  named  Nauvoo.  They  called 
themselves  Mormons,  or  Latter  Day  Saints.  Their  leader,  Joseph  Smith,  claimed 


MACOUPIN  COUNTY  OLD  SETTLERS'   PICNIC.  OCTOBER    I.   1874 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  41 

to  have  found  some  golden  tablets  or  plates,  with  inscriptions  upon  them;  that 
he  was  directed  by  an  angel  he  called  Maroni  where  to  find  the  plates  and  how 
to  translate  the  inscriptions.  The  Mormons  first  settled  in  Independence,  Iowa, 
but  their  conduct  there  was  such  that  they  were  driven  out  by  the  authorities, 
when  they  removed  to  and  settled  in  Hancock  county.  Here  they  soon  got  into 
trouble  with  the  Gentiles,  as  they  called  all  outside  of  their  sect,  or  church,  which 
soon  after  culminated  in  what  is  known  in  history  as  the  "Mormon  war,"  and 
the  death  of  Joseph  Smith  and  his  brother  Hiram. 

In  1840  the  legislature  granted  a  charter  to  Nauvoo,  with  full  powers  to  or- 
ganize its  militia  into  a  Nauvoo  legion,  establish  courts  of  justice  and  elect  all 
necessary  officers.  Under  the  charter,  Joseph  Smith  was  elected  mayor  in  1842. 

December  8,  1842,  Thomas  Ford  was  duly  inaugurated  governor  and  his  first 
duties  were  to  look  after  the  Mormons.  They  had  become  exceedingly  arrogant 
and  offensive  to  the  rest  of  the  people  in  the  county,  so  much  so  as  to  have  the 
citizens  call  upon  the  governor  to  suppress  them  or  drive  them  from  the  state. 
The  city  council  in  Nauvoo  passed  an  ordinance  that  if  any  person  should  try  to 
arrest  any  of  its  citizens  on  foreign  writs,  the  offender  should  be  imprisoned  for 
life  and  should  not  be  pardoned  by  the  governor  unless  the  mayor  of  Nauvoo  con- 
sented. The  act  practically  amounted  to  the  setting  up  of  a  separate  govern- 
ment within  the  limits  of  the  state.  Other  acts  equally  as  notorious  and  illegal 
were  enacted  by  the  council  and  mayor  and  were  attempted  to  be  enforced. 

The  governor  visited  the  place,  and  finding  that  the  affairs  of  the  city  were 
even  worse  than  he  had  been  informed  of,  he  ordered  arrests  to  be  made  and 
Joseph  Smith  and  his  brother  Hiram  were  arrested  and  lodged  in  jail  in  Carthage, 
the  county  seat.  After  Governor  Ford  had  left,  a  mob  was  organized  and  broke 
into  the  jail.  Hiram  Smith  was  killed  at  the  first  fire  and  soon  after,  Joseph,  the 
so-called  prophet.  Brigham  Young  was  elected  as  successor  to  Joseph  Smith, 
and  hostilities  between  the  Mormons  and  Gentiles  continued  as  before.  But  the 
governor  and  the  leader  of  the  Mormons  entered  into  an  agreement  in  the  win- 
ter of  1845.  by  which  they  made  arrangements  to  leave  and  about  the  middle  of 
May  following,  sixteen  thousand  Mormons  left  Nauvoo  for  the  west  and  finally 
settled  in  the  valley  of  the  great  Salt  Lake,  where  they  have  since  remained. 

THE   CONSTITUTION    OF    1848. 

December  9,  1846,  Augustus  C.  French  was  elected  governor.  A  proposition 
had  been  submitted  to  the  people  for  a  call  of  a  constitutional  convention  and 
the  vote  was  largely  in  favor  of  such  a  call.  A  special. election  of  delegates  was 
called  for  the  third  Monday  in  April,  1847,  and  these  were  to  meet  at  Springfield 
on  the  first  Monday  of  June  following.  The  delegates  met  in  convention  at  the 
time  set  by  the  call  and  on  the  3ist  of  August  of  that  year,  finished  its  labors. 
The  constitution  as  made  by  the  convention,  was  submitted  to  the  people  at  an 
election  held  March  6,  1848,  and  reinaugurated,  January  8,  1849.  The  popula- 
tion of  the  state  in  1850  was  851,470. 

THE  ILLINOIS  CENTRAL  RAILROAD. 

In  1851  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  was  incorporated.  Congress  had  the 
year  previous  granted  lands  for  the  construction  of  a  railroad  from  Chicago  to 


42  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Mobile,  and  the  act  of  the  legislature  authorized  the  construction  of  a  road  from 
the  southern  terminus  of  the  canal  at  La  Salle  to  a  point  at  the  city  of  Cairo, 
with  branches.  The  act  of  congress  gave  alternate  sections  of  land  for  six  miles 
in  width,  upon  each  side  of  the  road,  to  aid  in  the  building  of  it.  A  company  was 
formed  that  agreed  to  build  the  road  within  the  time  limited  and  agreed  to  give 
seven  per  cent  of  its  gross  earnings  to  the  state  for  the  benefit  of  common 
schools.  The  seven  hundred  miles  of  road  was  completed  before  the  close  of 
the  year  1856  and  thus  two  and  a  half  million  acres  of  wild  land  became  homes  of 
thousands  of  actual  settlers. 

Joel  A.  Matteson  was  inaugurated  governor  in  January,  1853.  It  was  during 
his  administration  that  the  great  political  changes  took  place,  not  only  in  the  state 
but  in  the  country  at  large.  The  old  whig  party  ceased  to  exist  at  the  defeat  of 
General  Scott  in  1852,  and  in  1856  the  great  republican  party  sprang  into  exist- 
ence. It  was  defeated  that  year  but  in  1860  it  rallied  in  its  strength  and  won  the 
battle  with  a  good  majority. 

The  history  of  the  state  under  the  administration  of  Governor  Matteson  was 
that  of  unexampled  prosperity.  The  financial  depressions  that  had  for  years 
hung  over  it  and  greatly  hindered  its  development  and  progress  were  swept  away 
and  the  state  came  to  the  front  as  one  of  the  most  favored  and  prosperous  of  all 
the  great  states  of  the  Union. 

William  H.  Bissell  succeeded  to  the  office  of  governor,  January  12,  1857.  He 
was  a  veteran  of  the  Mexican  war  and  a  man  of  integrity  and  ability.  It  was 
during  his  administration  that  a  new  penitentiary  was  ordered  to  be  built  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  state.  Three  commissioners  were  appointed,  one  of 
them  being  the  late  Hon.  Nelson  D.  Elwood,  of  Joliet.  These  were  to  select 
the  place  for  the  new  prison  and  take  charge  of  its  erection.  Joliet  was  the 
place  selected.  Governor  Bissell  died  at  Springfield,  March  18,  1860,  and  John 
Wood,  the  lieutenant  governor,  filled  out  the  unexpired  term.  The  population  of 
the  state  in  1860  was  1,711,951. 

DOUGLAS  AND   LINCOLN. 

In  1854  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  then  a  United  States  senator  from  Illinois,  ad- 
vocated and  brought  about  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  compromise.  This  was  an 
act  passed  by  congress  in  1820,  and  was  designed  to  reconcile  the  pro-slavery  and 
the  anti-slavery  parties  of  that  day.  By  this  act  it  was  determined  that  Missouri 
should  be  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  slaveholding  state  but  that  slavery  should 
never  be  established  in  any  state,  to  be  formed  in  the  future,  lying  north  of  lati- 
tude thirty  degrees  and  thirty  minutes.  That  was  the  act  repealed  in  1854,  and 
that  left  the  question  open,  whether  Kansas,  which  is  north  of  that  degree  of 
latitude,  should  be  admitted  as  a  free  or  slave  state. 

The  repeal  of  that  act  brought  Mr.  Lincoln  into  prominence  in  the  political 
history  of  the  state.  He  was  an  able  debater,  an  ardent  republican,  who  was 
among  the  first  in  the  organization  of  the  party  in  its  first  campaign  in  1856.  Mr. 
Douglas'  term  as  senator  in  congress  expired  in  1858  and  Mr.  Lincoln  entered 
the  lists  as  the  opponent  of  Mr.  Douglas  in  his  candidacy  for  reelection.  Each 
had  received  the  nomination  of  his  party  and  therefore  they  stood  on  equal 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  43 

grounds  in  their  contest  for  the  office.  Mr.  Lincoln  challenged  Mr.  Douglas  for 
a  joint  debate  of  the  questions  involved.  Mr.  Douglas  accepted,  and  seven  places 
were  selected,  one  in  each  congressional  district  in  the  state,  except  in  two  dis- 
tricts where  speeches  had  already  been  made.  In  that  debate,  slavery  was  the 
main  question  to  be  debated,  Douglas  contending  that  every  new  state,  whether 
north  or  south  of  the  old  compromise  line  that  applied  for  admission  to  the 
Union,  should  determine  for  itself  whether  it  should  be  a  slave  or  a  free  state, 
while  Mr.  Lincoln  insisted  that  slavery  should  be  put  in  a  "course  of  ultimate 
distinction."  Mr.  Douglas  won  the  prize  and  was  the  nominee  of  his  party  in 
the  campaign  of  1860  for  the  presidency,  while  Mr.  Lincoln  was  the  nominee 
for  the  republicans.  M_r.  Douglas  lost  through  the  division  of  his  party,  the 
southern  wing  having  put  John  C.  Breckinridge  in  nomination  against  him. 
Mr.  Lincoln  was  inaugurated  president,  March  4,  1861.  The  south  seceded  and 
then  came  four  years'  Civil  war,  the  emancipation  of  the  slaves,  and  after  a  most 
desperate  struggle  in  which  many  thousands  of  lives  were  sacrificed,  the  south 
surrendered  and  the  Union  was  again  restored. 

Richard  Yates  became  governor  in  1861.  He  was  the  war  governor,  as  dur- 
ing his  administration  the  Civil  war  was  fought  and  won.  He  was  a  vigilant, 
active  and  patriotic  governor,  who  did  not  shrink  from  performing  his  whole 
duty  in  aiding  the  general  government  in  its  life  and  death  struggle  in  maintain- 
ing the  Union  from  secession.  259,092  soldiers  were  raised  in  the  state  for  mili- 
tary service  in  suppressing  the  rebellion. 

Richard  J.  Oglesby  became  governor,  January  16,  1865.  The  war  had  closed 
but  there  were  grave  matters  yet  to  be  settled  and  Illinois  must  perform  its  full 
share.  In  January,  1867,  the  fourteenth  amendment  to  the  constitution  of  the 
United  States,  conferring  citizenship  upon  persons  without  regard  to  color,  was 
ratified  by  Illinois.  Another  measure  was  passed  by  the  same  legislature,  which 
was  of  great  interest  to  the  agricultural  community,  the  establishing  of  an  agri- 
cultural or  industrial  college  at  Urbana,  in  Iroquois  county.  Congress  had  made 
donations  to  the  several  states  for  the  purpose,  of  which  Illinois  received  nearly 
half  a  million  acres.  A  new  state  house  was  provided  for,  to  be  built  at  Spring- 
field, the  cost  of  which  was  not  to  exceed  $3,000,000. 

January,  i,  1869,  John  M.  Palmer  was  inaugurated  governor.  The  people 
of  the  state  had  voted  to  call  a  constitutional  convention  to  revise  the  constitution 
of  the  state  and  the  delegates  met  in  convention  at  Springfield,  December  I3th 
of  that  year.  The  most  important  change  was  that  making  it  a  fundamental  law 
prohibiting  special  legislation,  that  having  been  the  principal  business  of  the 
legislatures  of  the  state  previous  to  that  time.  The  constitution  was  ratified  by 
the  people,  July  2,  1870.  The  population  of  the  .state  that  year  was  2,539,891. 

THE  GREAT  CHICAGO  FIRE. 

It  was  late  on  Sunday  evening,  October  8,  1871,  that  a  fire  was  discovered 
burning  in  a  small  stable  west  of  the  south  branch  of  the  river  and  about  a  mile 
southwest  of  the  business  portion  of  the  city.  A  strong  wind  was  blowing  from 
that  direction  and  soon  the  fire  was  communicated  to  the  surrounding  buildings 
and  spread  rapidly  toward  the  very  heart  of  the  city.  The  fire  continued  to  ad- 


44  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

vance  and  spread  until  nearly  all  of  the  business  portion  of  the  city  was  destroyed 
and  100,000  people  rendered  homeless.  The  loss  by  fire  was  $200,000,000,  while 
a  large  number  of  citizens  lost  their  lives  in  the  holocaust.  The  world  at  large 
came  at  once  to  the  aid  of  the  stricken  city  in  its  terrible  distress.  It  was  a  dire 
calamity  to  the  young  and  growing  city  but  its  enterprising  citizens  rallied  to  the 
work  of  restoring  it  and  soon  it  arose  from  its  ashes,  a  better  and  more  sub- 
stantial city  than  before. 

Mr.  Oglesby  was  reelected  for  a  second  term  and  January  13,  1873,  was  duly 
inaugurated  as  governor.  The  session  of  the  legislature  that  met  that  month 
elected  him  United  States  senator,  and  John  L.  Beveridge,  the  lieutenant  gover- 
nor, then  became  governor.  But  little  of  note  was  done  during  his  admin- 
istration. The  state  continued  to  grow  in  population,  its  agricultural  and  com- 
mercial resources  were  developed  and  expanded  and  the  people  of  the  state  were 
contented  and  prosperous. 

Shelby  M.  Cullom  was  duly  elected  governor  at  the  November  election  in 
1876,  and  inaugurated  January  8,  1877.  It  was  at  that  session  of  the  legislature 
that  General  John  A.  Logan  became  involved  in  a  contest  for  reelection  as  United 
States  senator.  His  opponent  was  Judge  David  Davis.  Logan  was  the  regular 
republican  candidate,  while  Davis  was  a  democrat.  There  were  enough  inde- 
pendents in  the  legislature  to  hold  the  balance  of  power  and  it  was  not  until  the 
fortieth  ballot  that  the  long  contest  was  decided  in  favor  of  Judge  Davis  and  he 
became  General  Logan's  successor. 

It  was  during  Governor  Cullom's  term  of  office  that  the  great  railroad  strike 
occurred.  It  began  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  where  the  center  of  the  various 
railroad  employes  was  located,  with  branches  all  over  the  country.  Illinois,  as  a 
great  railroad  state  and  mining  center,  felt  the  disturbances  which  reached  every 
part  of  the  state  and  especially  Chicago,  where  many  of  the  railroads  terminated. 
Troops  M  ere  called  out,  the  rioting  quelled  and  in  a  few  days  order  was  restored 
and  business  began  to  enter  its  usual  channels.  The  population  of  the  state  in 
1880  was  3,077,871. 

Mr.  Cullom  was  reelected  in  1880  and  duly  installed  into  office,  January  10, 
1881.  In  his  message  to  the  legislature  he  favored  the  cession  of  the  canal  to  the 
general  government  but  the  legislature  failed  to  act  on  his  recommendation  at 
the  regular  session.  A  special  session  for  that  purpose  was  called  by  the  gov- 
ernor and  among  other  things,  of  reapportioning  the  state  into  congressional  and 
senatorial  districts,  and  at  that  session  an  act  was  passed  ceding  it  to  the  general 
government.  The  government,  however,  never  accepted  the  gift  nor  took  any 
steps  whatever  toward  controlling  it,  and  so  the  ceding  came  to  naught. 

January  16,  1883,  the  legislature  elected  Governor  Cullom  United  States  sena- 
tor and  it  was  at  that  session  of  that  body  the  so-called  Harper  high  license  law 
was  enacted,  making  the  license  for  dram  shops  not  less  than  $500.  and  $150  for 
the  sale  of  malt  and  vinous  liquors  only. 

Richard  J.  Oglesby  was  elected  governor  in  November,  1884,  for  the  third 
time  and  was  sworn  into  office,  January  13,  1885.  The  great  riot  at  Haymarket 
Square.  Chicago,  occurred  May  4,  1886.  A  meeting  was  being  held  there  by  the 
labor  element  to  consider  the  eight  hour  question  and  much  noise  and  confusion 
took  place.  The  police  were  called  to  quell  the  disturbance  and  a  bomb  was 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  45 

thrown  among  them.  Seven  of  their  number  were  instantly  killed  and  many 
wounded.  Eight  of  the  rioters  were  arrested  for  the  crime,  tried,  found  guilty, 
and  seven  of  them  sentenced  to  be  hung,  while  the  eighth  was  sentenced  to  the 
penitentiary  for  fifteen  years.  One  of  the  prisoners  committed  suicide  while  in 
jail,  four  were  hung,  and  the  sentence  of  the  other  two  was  commuted  to  im- 
prisonment for  life. 

January  14, 1889,  Joseph  W.  Fifer  was  inaugurated  as  governor  and  it  was  at 
that  session  of  the  legislature  that  the  sanitary  district  of  Chicago  was  created 
and  the  construction  of  the  drainage  canal  ordered. 

.     COLUMBIAN    EXPOSITION. 

The  great  Columbian  Exposition  was  to  be  held  at  Chicago  in  1893  and  the 
legislature  was  convened  in  the  summer  of  1890,  to  grant  to  the  government  the 
authority  to  hold  it  there  and  also  to  grant  such  other  aid  as  was  deemed  neces- 
sary to  hold  the  celebration  and  enable  it  to  be  devoted  to  exposition  purposes. 

The  population  of  the  state  in  1890  was  3,826,351. 

John  P.  Altgeld  was  elected  governor  in  1892.  He  was  the  first  foreign  born 
governor  of  the  state,  having  been  born  in  Germany  in  1848.  He  was  the  first 
democratic  governor  since  the  election  of  Governor  Matteson  in  1852.  About 
his  first  act  after  being  installed  into  office  was  the  pardoning  of  the  Haymarket 
Square  prisoners,  then  confined  in  the  penitentiary.  This  act  provoked  a  large 
amount  of  criticism  from  all  classes  all  over  the  state,  and  even  in  other  states, 
and  so  bitter  was  the  feeling  for  this  act  of  clemency  on  the  part  of  the  gover- 
nor that  it  hopelessly  divided  his  party  and  he  was  most  overwhelmingly  defeated 
for  reelection.  During  his  administration,  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition, 
before  alluded  to,  took  place  in  Chicago.  It  was  opened  May  ist  and  closed  at 
the  end  of  October.  The  exposition  was  a  great  success  in  every  particular  and 
reflected  much  credit  upon  its  managers. 

John  R.  Tanner  was  the  next  governor  and  was  inaugurated  in  January,  1897. 
The  Cuban  war,  so  called,  occurred  during  his  administration.  It  resulted  in 
wrestling  that  island  from  Spanish  rule  and  giving  it  independence,  and  also  the 
acquisition  of  Porto  Rico  and  the  Philippine  Islands  to  the  American  government. 

THE    CUBAN    WAR. 

The  destruction  of  the  warship  Maine  while  on  a  friendly  visit  in  Havana 
liarbor  and  the  great  loss  of  American  seamen,  was  the  direct  cause  for  the 
declaration  of  war  with  Spain.  The  news  of  the  terrible  tragedy  as  it  was  flashed 
across  the  wires,  aroused  the  nation  to  activity  to  avenge  the  insult  to  the  na- 
tion's flag,  and  steps  were  at  once  taken  to  investigate  the  cause  of  the  destruction 
of  the  vessel  and  the  blame  was  laid  upon  the  Spanish  authorities.  A  demand 
was  made  upon  Spain  for  a  redress  of  the  wrong.  She  refused  to  admit  any 
liability  in  the  catastrophe  and  the-  war  was  the  result.  Troops  were  at  once 
called  for  by  the  president  and  a  noble  response  was  made  by  every  state  in  the 
Union.  Seven  regiments  was  the  quota  assigned  to  Illinois  and  these  were  quickly 


46  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

raised  and  sent  to  the  front,  where  they  performed  most' excellent  service  for 
their  country. 

STATE    HISTORICAL   SOCIETY. 

May  23,  1900,  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society  was  incorporated,  with  the 
following  object:  "To  excite  and  stimulate  a  general  interest  in  the  history  of 
Illinois ;  to  encourage  historical  research  and  investigation  and  secure  its  promul- 
gation ;  to  collect  and  preserve  all  forms  of  historical  data  in  any  way  connected 
with  Illinois  and  its  people." 

The  population  of  the  state  in  1900  was  4,821,550. 

Richard  Yates  was  inaugurated  as  governor  of  the  state  in  January,  1901. 
He  was  the  first  native  born  governor,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Jacksonville, 
Illinois,  December  12,  1860.  The  legislature  that  met  in  January,  1901,  reappor- 
tioned  the  state  into  twenty-five  congressional  and  fifty-one  senatorial  districts 
and  appropriated  $250,000  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  building  and  presenting 
exhibits  of  the  state  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition,  to  be  held  in  St.  Louis 
in  1904. 

Charles  S.  Deneen  was  elected  governor  in  November,  1904,  and  was  duly 
installed  into  office  in  January,  1905.  He  was  the  second  native  born  governor, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Edwardsville,  Illinois,  May  4,  1863.  He  is  a  grad- 
uate of  McKendree  College  and  the  Union  College  of  Law.  Governor  Deneen 
is  the  present  incumbent  of  that  office. 

RETROSPECTIVE. 

In  retrospect  we  will  go  back  to  early  times  and  refer  to  some  of  the  interest- 
ing incidents  and  matters  that  occurred  when  the  state  was  young. 

THE    VISIT    OF    LAFAYETTE. 

It  was  in  1825  that  the  Marquis  de  LaFayette  came  to  Kaskaskia,  while  on  his 
tour  through  the  western  country.  That  was  one  of  the  great  events  in  the 
monotony  of  western  life  and  served  the  pioneers  with  food  for  friendly  gossip 
for  years  thereafter.  The  general  assembly  having  learned  of  his  arrival  in 
America,  addressed  a  resolution  of  welcome  to  him  at  its  session  in  December, 
1824,  in  glowing  terms  of  admiration  for  his  patriotic  services  for  the  country  and 
earnestly  invited  him  to  extend  his  visit  to  the  western  country  to  Illinois.  The 
address  with  a  personal  letter  from  Governor  Coles,  who  became  acquainted  with 
LaFayette  in  France  in  1817,  was  forwarded  to  LaFayette  on  the  gth  of  Decem- 
ber, and  on  the  i6th  of  January,  1825,  he  expressed  his  gratification  for  the  honor 
done  him  by  Illinois  and  then  added:  "It  has  ever  been  my  eager  desire  and  is 
now  my  earnest  intention  to  visit  the  western  states,  and  particularly  the  state  of 
Illinois.  The  feelings  which  your  distant  welcome  could  not  fail  to  excite  have 
increased  that  patriotic  eagerness  to  admire  on  that  blessed  spot  the  happy  and 
rapid  results  of  republican  institutions,  public  and  domestic  virtues.  I  shall, 
after  the  celebration  of  the  22d  of  February,  anniversary  day,  leave  this  place 
for  the  southern  states,  going  from  New  Orleans  to  the  western  states,  so  as  to 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  47 

return  to  Boston  on  the  I4th  of  June,  when  the  corner  stone  of  Bunker  Hill  monu- 
ment is  to  be  laid — a  ceremony  sacred  to  the  whole  Union,  and  in  which  I  have 
been  engaged  to  act  a  peculiar  and  honorable  part." 

The  General  arrived  at  St.  Louis  on  the  steamboat  Natchez,  April  28.  An 
immense  concourse  entered  the  boat  at  the  landing  to  greet  and  honor  the  patriot 
and  hero.  The  greeting  of  the  General  in  St.  Louis  was  a  most  hearty  and  loyal 
one,  well  worthy  of  the  patriot  and  his  hosts.  April  3Oth  the  Natchez  took  Gen- 
eral LaFayette  and  a  large  concourse  of  distinguished  visitors  down  the  river 
to  Kaskaskia,  where  the  entire  population  assembled  to  bid  him  welcome.  A  din- 
ner was  prepared  at  the  hotel,  kept  by  Colonel  Sweet,  and  the  entire  company 
of  distinguished  guests  was  entertained.  In  the  evening  a  grand  ball  was  given 
in  his  honor  at  the  large  and  commodious  house  of  William  Morrison.  At  the 
ball  was  a  squaw  whose  father  had  served  under  General  LaFayette  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  To  identify  herself  she  had  brought  a  letter  written  by  the  Gen- 
eral to  her  father  many  years  before,  and  which  the  father  left  to  the  daughter 
as  a  precious  legacy. 

General  LaFayette  after  the  ball  went  to  Nashville  but  returned  in  a  few  days 
to  Shawneetown,  where  he  was  again  greeted  with  enthusiasm  on  the  part  of 
the  citizens  that  brought  tears,  and  his  answer  to  their  address  of  welcome  was 
given  with  much  emotion.  At  his  departure  a  salute  was  fired,  after  which  he 
returned  to  the  east. 

WHY  SOUTHERN    ILLINOIS   WAS   CALLED  EGYPT. 

Charles  Robertson  in  the  Chicago  Journal,  under  date  of  February  8,  1872, 
says  that  the  southern  part  of  the  state  was  called  Egypt  from  the  following: 
"Fifty  years  ago,  or  in  the  summer  of  1821,  there  was  not  a  bushel  of  corn  to  be 
had  in  all  central  Illinois.  My  father  settled  in  that  year  twenty-three  miles 
west  of  Springfield.  We  lived  for  a  time  on  venison,  blackberries  and  milk,,  while 
the  men  were  gone  to  Egypt  to  harvest  and  procure  breadstuffs.  The  land  we 
improved  was  surveyed  that  summer  and  afterward  bought  of  the  government 
by  sending  beeswax  down  the  Illinois  river  to  St.  Louis  in  an  Indian  canoe. 
Dressed  deerskins  and  tanned  hides  were  then  in  use  and  we  made  one  piece  of 
cloth  out  of  nettles  instead  of  flax,  cotton  material,  well  for  a  decade,  until  the 
deep  snow  of  1830." 

Thus  the  southern  part  of  Illinois  received  the  application  of  "Egypt,"  as 
therein  indicated,  because,  being  older,  better  settled  and  cultivated,  it  gathered 
corn  as  "the  salt  of  the  sea,"  and  the  settlers  in  the  central  part  of  the  state, 
after  the  manner  of  the  children  of  Israel  in  their  wants,  "went  to  Egypt  to  buy 
and  bring  from  thence  that  they  might  live  and  not  die." 

THE  "SUCKERS" — WHY  so  NAMED. 

Why  all  native  Illinoisans  are  called  "Suckers"  originated  at  an  early  date 
and  there  are  two  versions,  both  of^  which  we  will  give  our  readers  and  they  can 
select  from  the  two  which  to  them  seems  the  most  probable  and  correct. 

In  1804  Governor  Harrison  bought  of  the  Sac  and  Fox  tribes  a  tract  of  land 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Fever  river,  where  Galena  is  now  located,  fifteen  miles 


48  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

square.  It  was  called  "lead  lands,"  for  upon  the  tract  in  many  places  lead  had 
been  found,  and  several  mines  opened,  and  it  is  said  that  the  origin  of  the  name 
"Sucker"  as  applied  to  the  native  miners  and  the  Illinoisans  was  first  heard  and 
used  in  those  mines.  George  Brunk  of  Sangamon  writes :  "Late  in  the  fall  of 
1826  I  was  on  board  a  steamboat  bound  down  the  river,  when  a  man  from  Mis- 
souri stepped  up  and  asked,  'Boys,  where  are  you  going?'  The  answer  was 
'Home.'  'Well,'  he  replied,  'you  put  me  in  mind  of  suckers ;  up  in  the  spring, 
spawn,  and  all  return  in  the  fall.'  '  The  name  stuck  to  the  Illinoisans  and  when 
Judge  Sawyer  came  up  to  the  mines  on  circuit  court  duty,  he  was  called  the  "king 
of  Suckers."  Those  who  stayed  at  the  mines  over  winter — most  of  them  from 
Wisconsin — were  called  "Badgers."  The  next  spring  the  Missourians  poured 
fnto  the  mining  region  in  great  numbers  and. the  state  was  said  to  have  taken 
a  "puke,"  and  the  offensive  appellation  of  "Pukes"  was  applied  to  all  the  miners 
from  that  state. 

JUDGE  DOUGLAS  TELLS  WHERE  THEY  GOT  THE  NAME  OF  "SUCKER." 

It  was  on  the  occasion  of  a  pleasant  entertainment  of  Judge  Douglas  at  Peters- 
burg, Virginia,  that  he  gave  the  following  humorous  account  of  the  term  "Suck- 
ers," as  applied  to  Illinoisans ;  the  account  is  valuable  further  and  confers  a  proud 
distinction  upon  Illinois,  in  that  it  clears  up  all  doubts  regarding  the  discov- 
ery of  that  important  and  inspiring  beverage  called  "mint  julep" — a  very  mo- 
mentous question  that  for  years  has  been  covered  with  obscurity  and  beset  with 
very  many  doubts,  but  in  the  light  of  the  facts  then  disclosed  by  the  learned 
judge,  happily  placed  at  rest.  It  is  not  improbable  that  a  glass  of  the  animating 
beverage  served  to  quicken  the  memory  of  the  honorable  senator  from  Illinois 
on  that  occasion. 

Judge  Douglas  said :  "About  the  year  1777,  George  Rogers  Clark  applied  to 
the  governor  of  Virginia  and  suggested  to  him  that  as  peace  might  be  declared 
at  any  time  between  the  colonies  and  Great  Britain,  it  would  be  well  for  us  to  be 
in  possession  of  the  northwest  territory,  so  that  when  the  commissioners  came 
to  negotiate  a  treaty,  we  might  act  on  the  well  known  principle  of  law  that 
possession  was  at  least  nine  parts,  each  party  holding  all  that  they  had  in  pos- 
session. He  suggested  to  the  governor  to  permit  him  to  go  out  to  the  northwest, 
conquer  the  country  and  hold  it  until  the  treaty  of  peace,  when  we  would  become 
possessed  of  it. 

"The  governor  consented  and  sent  him  across  the  mountains  to  Pittsburg. 
From  there  he  and  his  companions  floated  down  the  Ohio  on  rafts  to  the  falls, 
where  Louisville  now  is.  After  remaining  there  a  short  time  they  again  took 
their  new  rafts  and  floated  down  to  the  salines,  just  below  the  present  site  of 
Shawneetown,  Illinois.  Here  they  took  up  their  march  across  the  country  to  Kas- 
kaskia,  where  the  French  had  an  old  settlement  and  by  the  aid  of  a  guide  they 
reached  Oquaw  and  encamped  near  Peter  Menard's  house,  some  little  distance 
from  the  town.  You  see,  I  am  well  acquainted  with  the  locality.  (Laughter.) 
Next  morning  Clark  got  his  little  army  of  ragamuffins  together,  for  they  had 
no  army  wagons  with  supplies,  no  sutler  and  no  stores,  and  by  this  time  looked 
ragged  enough,  and  took  up  his  line  of  march  for  the  little  French  town  of 


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HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  49 

Kaskaskia.  It  was  summer  and  a  very  hot  day,  and  as  he  entered  the  town  and 
saw  the  Frenchmen  sitting  quietly  on  their  little  verandas  in  front  of  their 
houses,  sucking  their  juleps  through  straws,  he  rushed  upon  them,  crying  'Sur- 
render, you  suckers,  you.'  (Great  laughter.)  The  Frenchmen  surrendered,  and 
from  that  day  to  this  Illinoisans  have  been  known  as  'Suckers.'  (Applause.) 

"That  was  the  origin  of  our  cognomen,  and  when  George  Rogers  Clark  re- 
turned to  Virginia  he  introduced  the  julep  here.  (Laughter.)  Now,  I  want  to 
give  you  Virginians  fair  notice  that  when  they  claim  the  honor  of  a  Jefferson,  of 
a  Madison,  of  a  Marshall,  and  of  as  many  other  distinguished  sages  and  patriots 
as  the  world  ever  saw,  we  yield ;  when'  you  claim  the  credit  of  a  cession  of  the 
northwest  territory,  that  out  of  it  sovereign  states  might  be  created,  we  yield ; 
when  you  claim  the  credit  o.f  never  having  polled  a  vote  against  the  democratic 
party,  we  yield ;  but  when  you  claim  the  glory  of  the  mint  julep,  hands  off,  Illi- 
nois wants  that."  (Shouts  of  laughter  and  applause.) — 111.  Reg.,  September  9, 
1860. 

POLITICS    AND    POLITICIANS. 

The  manner  of  conducting  political  campaigns  in  the  days  of  yore  was  similar 
in  some  respects  to  that  of  more  modern  times  and  yet  in  other  respects  radically 
different.  Politics  entered  into  some  of  the  campaigns  to  a  great  extent  and  yet 
in  others  they  were  almost  entirely  ignored.  Governor  Ford  in  his  history  of 
Illinois  says  of  those  days:  "Up  to  the  year  1840,  I  can  say  with  perfect  truth 
that  considerations  of  mere  party,  men's  condescensions,  agreeable  carriage  and 
professions  of  friendship  had  more  influence  with  the  great  body  of  the  people 
than  the  most  important  public  services."  These  .considerations  have  always 
been  of  more  consequence  in  a  majority  of  cases  than  any  public  services  ren- 
dered, no  matter  how  valuable  those  services  may  have  been  to  the  people  or 
country. 

There  were  many  adventurers  among  the  old  pioneers,  with  whom  govern- 
mental affairs  had  but  little  thought.  When  aroused  to  the  exercise  of  the  great 
privilege  of  a  citizen — the  elective  franchise — by  demagogues  interested  in  some 
intrigue,  no  other  consideration  entered  into  the  act  of  the  voter  than  to  either 
help  a  friend  or  punish  an  enemy.  There  were  no  great  political  questions  to 
divide  the  people  prior  to  the  early  '305.  They  called  themselves  whigs  and 
democrats  without  the  least  thought  or  care  regarding  any  of  the  questions  of 
public  policy,  tariff  or  any  of  the  great  questions  that  were  brought  forward  at  a 
later  date. 

The  use  of  whisky  for  electioneering  purposes  was  almost  universal  and  the 
custom  of  "treating,"  as  it  was  called,  during  a.  political  campaign  was  indis- 
putable to  success.  It  was  a  common  custom  for  the  candidates  to  go  to  the  sa- 
loons and  leave  orders  to  treat  free  all  who  came  on  certain  days,  called  "treat- 
ing days,"  at  their  expense.  "Treating  days"  were  usually  on  Saturday  and 
then  the  voters  for  miles  around  would  all  congregate  at  the  saloons,  many  of 
them  get  drunk  and  often  engage  in  rough  and  tumble  fights.  The  candidates 
would  usually  be  there,  too,  and  in  "some  shady  grove  put  forth  their  claims  for 
office.  The  favorite  platform  from  which  their  speeches  would  be  made  was  the 
stump  of  some  large  tree,  and  hence  the  phrase  of  "stump  speech."  The  vital 


50  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

questions  "having  been  discussed,"  the  meeting  would  break  up  and  the  audience 
disperse  to  their  homes  to  sober  up  and  get  ready  for  the  next  "treating  day." 

The  real  pioneers  of  that  day  were  the  leaders  in  all  such  meetings  and  sports. 
They  were  in  many  instances  extremely  ignorant,  governed  by  passionate  preju- 
dices and  usually  opposed  to  every  public  policy  which  looked  to  the  elevation 
of  society.  They  arrayed  themselves  in  buckskin  breeches,  leather  moccasins, 
raccoon  caps  and  red  shirts,  belted  at  the  waist,  and  with  a  large  knife  in  the 
belt,  hence  they  were  called  "butcher  boys."  They  would  proclaim  their  great 
bravery  upon  every  occasion  and  swear  that  they  were  "half  horse  and  half  alli- 
gator," meaning  that  they  could  not  be  overcome  in  combat. 

Such  to  a  great  extent  were  a  large  number  of  the  early  settlers  of  southern 
Illinois.  When  in  liquor  they  were  veritable  demons  but  at  home,  when  away 
from  the  influence  of  drink,  were  quiet  and  peaceable  and  good  neighbors. 

SALT    MAKING. 

The  making  of  salt  in  the  early  history  of  the  Illinois  country  is  one 
of  the  most  interesting  subjects  of  the  time.  The  salt  springs,  or  "salines,"  as 
they  were  called,  were  located  near  Equality,  in  Gallatin  county.  When  dis- 
covered, there  was  every  indication  that  they  had  been  worked  by  a  prehistoric 
race,  long  before  the  whites  had  penetrated  the  Illinois  wilds.  The  evaporating 
kettles  used  by  them  were  found  near  Equality  and  near  the  Negro  Salt  Springs. 
The  kettles  were  between  three  and  four  feet  in  diameter,  made  of  clay  and 
pounded  shells,  and  were  molded  in  a  kind  of  basket  work,  or  cloth,  which  left 
the  impression  upon  the  outside  of  the  kettle  and  looked  like  artistic  hand  work. 
Nothing  is  known  as  to  how  long  the  springs  had  been  worked  by  the  Indians  but 
there  was  every  appearance  that  they  had  been  used  in  the  process  of  making 
salt  for  ages. 

In  1812  congress  assumed  control  of  the  springs,  and  on  the  i2th  of  Feb- 
ruary, that  year,  an  act  was  passed  setting  apart  six  square  miles  of  land  to  sup- 
port the  Equality  salines.  They  were  then  leased  to  work,  and  slaves  were  em- 
ployed to  perform  the  work,  they  having  been  brought  from  Kentucky  and  Ten- 
nessee for  that  purpose.  Many  of  these  negroes,  by  extra  work,  saved  enough 
money  to  buy  their  freedom  and  from  these  are  descended  the  large  number  of 
those  who  resided  in  Gallatin  and  Saline  counties  before  the  Civil  war.  There 
was  a  monopoly  in  the  salt  trade  after  the  act  of  leasing  the  springs  and  the 
common  price  of  it  was  five  dollars  a  bushel,  and  even  at  that  price  a  ready  mar- 
ket was  always  found  in  all  the  adjoining  country.  People  would  come  hundreds 
of  miles  and  carry  it  away  in  sacks  on  horseback.  When  Illinois  was  admitted 
into  the  Union,  these  salines  were  ceded  to  the  state  and  thenceforward  they  were 
state  property  and  ceased  as  such,  February  23,  1847.  By  an  act  of  the  general 
assembly,  the  saline  lands  were  all  sold  to  the  school  trustees  of  the  township. 
They  have  since  been  very  productive,  producing  when  worked  to  their  fullest 
capacity,  200  barrels  of  salt  per  day. 

IMPROVEMENTS  IN   AGRICULTURE. 

The  wonderful  improvements  made  for  cultivating  the  soil  are  most  marvel- 
ous and  are  to  be  seen  on  every  hand.  Seventy-five  to  eighty  years  ago  the  plows 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIX  COUNTY  51 

were  made  with  moldboards  of  wood  and  these  were  sometimes  covered  with 
straps  of  iron  to  prevent  wearing  out  too  rapidly.  In  those  days  plows  were 
about  the  only  implement  used  in  stirring  the  soil.  Harrows  with  wooden  teeth 
were  used  for  covering  the  grain  after  sowing  but  they  were  poor  affairs  and 
easily  broken.  Corn  was  planted  wholly  by  hand,  the  barefooted  boys  and  girls 
dropping  the  seed,  which  was  then  covered  with  a  hoe.  Sickles  were  about  the 
only  implements  used  in  cutting  the  grain,  although  grain  cradles  were  introduced 
about  that  time.  Grass  was  always  cut  with  a  scythe  and  raked  together  with 
the  hand  rake.  Wheat  and  all  kinds  of  grain  were  tramped  out  with  horses. 
The  bundles  were  laid  with  the  heads  inward  in  a  circle,  the  horses  were  driven 
around  on  it  until  it  was  trampled  out  and  then  the  grain  winnowed  and  cleaned 
in  the  wind. 

But  all  this  has  been  changed  and  that,  too,  for  the  benefit  of  the  farmer. 
Gang  and  sulky  plows  of  steel  now  turn  over  the  sod  and  thus  increase  the 
capacity  for  human  labor  and  greatly  decrease  its  severity.  Machinery  has  been 
utilized  to  drill  in  the  grain,  cut  and  bind  it,  thresh  and  winnow  it,  and  also  cut, 
pitch  and  load  the  hay  and  put  it  into  stacks. 

The  farmers  were  at  first  slow  in  adopting  the  machinery  for  farm  work 
but  it  gradually  gained  in  favor  until  now  it  has  almost  superseded  labor  by  hand. 
The  farmer  guides  from  his  seat  behind  his  team  and  the  machinery  performs 
the  labor  and  that,  too,  much  quicker,  far  better  and  more  satisfactorily  than  it 
could  possibly  be  done  by  hand. 

PROGRESS  IN  THE  STATE. 

Illinois  has  made  wonderful  progress  as  a  state  in  internal  improvements, 
agriculture  and  commerce.  In  1837  the  first  railroad  was  built  in  the  state.  It 
was  but  six  miles  in  length,  with  small  cars  drawn  by  horses  or  mules ;  the  rails 
were  but  wooden  joists,  laid  on  .ties,  and  upon  the  joists  strap  iron  was  spiked 
with  spikes  made  by  the  local  blacksmiths.  From  that  small  beginning  the  rail- 
roads in  the  state  have  been -extended  until  1903,  when  the  last  report  was  made 
and  there  were  11,502  miles  in  operation,  permeating  every  part  of  the  state. 
The  mileage  of  railroads  exceeds  that  of  every  other  state  in  the  Union,  the  near- 
est approach  to  it  being  the  state  of  Texas,  with  11,256  miles.  Pennsylvania  has 
10,784  miles,  the  Empire  state  8,180,  while  all  New  England  has  but  7,609  miles, 
or  only  about  two-thirds  as  much  mileage  as  the  state  of  Illinois.  In  population 
it  ranks  as  the  third  state  in  the  Union,  while  in  1830  it  was  the  twentieth. 

In  agriculture  it  has  made  even  greater  progress.  When  the  state  was  ad- 
mitted into  the  Union  in  1818  it  had  a  population  of  about  50,000,  with  some 
11,500  farms  and  70,000  acres  of  land  under  cultivation.  In  1820,  two  years 
after  it  was  admitted  as  a  state,  260,000  bushels  of  corn  were  raised  in  the  whole 
state,  63,000  bushels  of  oats,  and  no  broom  corn;  while  by  the  last  census  we 
find  there  were  398,149,140  bushels  of  corn,  180,105,630  bushels  of  oats,  and 
60,665,560  pounds  of  broom  corn,  equalling  3,330  tons.  In  1820  there  was  not 
a  gallon  of  fermented  liquor  made  in  the  state,  while  in  1904  there  were  4,632,- 
726  barrels  of  it  made,  just  about  a  barrel  for  every  man,  woman  and  child  in  the 
state.  The  same  year  there  were  41,787,891  gallons  of  distilled  spirits  or  liquors 


52  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIX  COUNTY 

made,  or  about  ten  gallons  for  every  man,  woman  and  child  in  the  state.  This 
far  exceeds  any  other  state,  for  even  Kentucky,  which  is  said  to  use  up  all  the 
surplus  corn  and  rye  into  whisky,  only  produces  23,114,735  gallons — a  little  more 
than  one-half  of  what  Illinois  produces. 

There  is  another  thing  in  which  Illinois  exceeds  all  other  states,  and  that  is 
in  the  number  of  war  pensioners,  there  being  71,647  in  the  state,  to  whom  the 
government  annually'  pays  more  than  $10,000,000. 

DISCOVERY  OF  COAL. 

The  first  mention  made  in  the  history  of  the  state  of  coal  or  finding  it  here, 
was  by  Father  Hennepin  in  his  journal.  It  was  in  1679,  when  on  a  visit  to  the 
Illinois  country  with  La  Salle's  party.  He  says:  "Having  arrived  in  the  Miami 
country  and  while  they  were  seeking  for  a  portage  by  which  they  could  reach 
the  Illinois  river,  La  Salle,  while  exploring  the  country,  became  separated  from 
the  rest  of  the  party,  and,  as  he  did  not  return,  searching  parties  were  sent  out 
after  him.  When  found,  his  face  and  hands  were  black  with  the  coal  and  the 
wood  that  he  had  lighted  during  the  night,  as  it  was  cold." 

The  Miami  country,  as  then  understood,  was  in  the  vicinity  of  the  headwaters 
of  the  Illinois  river,  where  it  is  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  Kankakee  and 
Des  Plaines.  After  giving  an  account  of  how  they  reached  the  Illinois,  he  says : 
"There  are  mines  of  coal,  slate,  iron  and  lumps  of  pure  red  copper,  which  are 
found  in  various  places,  indicating  that  there  are  mines  and  perhaps  other  metals 
and  minerals,  which  will  one  day  be  discovered." 

These  references  clearly  indicate  the  location  of  extensive  coal  mines  in  Will 
and  Grundy  counties,  which  have  furnished  such  vast  quantities  of  coal  to  the 
people  of  the  state. 

In  1720  Father  Charlevoix  arrived  at  the  junction  of  the  headwaters  of  the 
Illinois.  Lower  down  the  river,  at  the  junction  of  the  Illinois  with  a  river  that 
flows  from  the  Mascoutens,  the  place  is  called  Charboniere,  "because  they  find 
many  coals  there."  That  was  in  what  is  now  La  Salle  county,  the  river  named 
being  the  Fox. 

•In  T773»  Kennedy  in  his  journal  speaks  of  being  near  the  site  of  the  old 
Kaskaskia  Indian  town  at  Utica,  in  La  Salle  county.  He  says :  "On  the  north- 
western side  of  this  river  is  a  coal  mine  that  extends,  for  half  a  mile  along  the 
middle  bank  of  the  river,  which  is  high." 

Beck,  in  a  book  issued  by  him  in  1823,  says:  "Coal  is  found  in  great  abun- 
dance in  different  parts  of  the  state;  it  is  of  good  quality  and  is  very  valuable 
on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  timber.  Since  the  time  of  Father  Hennepin's  first 
mention  of  coal  in  the  state  the  coal  industry  has  grown  and  flourished  to  such 
extensive  proportions  that  it  is  now  one  of  our  leading  industries." 

From  a  summary  recently  furnished  by  the  secretary  of  the  Illinois  Bureau 
of  Labor  Statistics  it  appears  that  there  are  now  more  than  1,000  mines  in  the 
state  and  that  nearly  40,000,000  tons  of  coal  are  mined  annually  by  59,230  em- 
ployes. There  are  102  counties  in  .the  state  and  of  these  fifty-six  have  coal 
mines  that  contribute  to  the  vast  amount  of  coal  consumed  by  the  people  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  53 

state  every  year,  and  of  the  56,000  square  miles  of  land  in  the  state,   36,000 
contain  coal. 

TEMPERANCE. 

About  the  year  1840  a  great  temperance  movement  was  inaugurated  in  the 
east  and  it  soon  spread  to  Illinois.  The  temperance  people  called  themselves 
"Washingtonians,"  and  the  movement  was  quite  popular  in  some  localities  in 
the  east  for  several  years  but  met  with  a  chilly  reception  in  most  places  out  in 
southern  Illinois  among  the  pioneers.  It  was  all  right  down  there  among  the 
women  and  children  but  the  lords  of  the  soil  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  it. 

A  society  was  organized  in  the  small  village  of  Troy,  Madison  county,  a 
few  miles  south  of  Edwardsville,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  go  out 
among  the  farmers  and  solicit  them  to  join  the  society.  The  chairman  or  spokes- 
man of  the  party  was  the  minister  of  the  little  church  in  the  village.  On  one  of 
their  trips  around  the  neighboring  towns,  they  came  across  an  old  farmer  who 
had  taken  his  whisky  straight  for  many  a  year.  He  was  informed  of  the  society 
and  its  object  and  very  kindly  asked  to  join  it.  The  old  fellow  was  indignant 
to  think  they  should  want  him  to  join  such  an  organization,  and  would  not  listen 
to  them  but  they  pleaded  with  him  and  told  him  of  the  misery  and  ruin  whisky 
was  causing  in  the  country  and  added  that  if  the  men  would  join  the  society  it 
would  close  up  the  dram  shops  and  then  no  one  could  get  any  liquor.  "What," 
said  the  old  fellow,  ''close  up  the  dram  shops?  I  would  have  you  know,  sir, 
that  my  brother  keeps  a  dram  shop  up  there  in  Edwardsville,  and  you  want  me 
to  help  ruin  him,  do  ye?  Xo,  I'll  see  you  d — d  first,  and  that  I  won't."  And 
with  that  the  old  fellow  turned  on  his  heel  and  left  them,  boiling  with  indigna- 
tion to  think  they  should  ask  him  to  do  an  act  that  would  aid  in  ruining  his 
brother's  business. 

BEE    TREES. 

The  characteristics  of  the  old  pioneers  are  very  forcibly  illustrated  in  an 
anecdote  related  by  the  late  Robert  S.  Blackwell,  the  author  of  "Blackwell  on 
Tax  Titles."  Mr.  Blackwell  said  that  "the  old  pioneers  were  great  bee  hunters, 
and  had  the  custom  of  appropriating  to  the  finder  all  bee  trees  on  whose  land 
soever  they  happened  to  be  growing.  When  they  discovered  a  bee  tree,  without 
leave  or  license,  they  entered  upon  the  land,  cut  it  down  and  made  themselves 
masters  of  the  honey.  The  owners  seldom  ventured  to  complain  and  when  they 
did,  the  juries  were  sure  to  punish  their  presumption  with  costs  of  suit. 

"Well,  one  of  the  old  settlers  to  whom  I  allude  came  to  my  office  one  day 
and  stated  that  he  had  felled  a  bee  tree  upon  his  neighbor's  land.  He  alluded 
to  the  old  custom  of  conferring  title  "by  discovery,  and  that  suit  was  threatened, 
asking  my  advice  in  the  premises.  I  replied  that  he  had  committed  a  trespass 
and  advised  him  to  compromise  the  affair.  He  left  the  office  in  high  dungeon, 
saying  as  he  was  departing,  'This  country  is  getting  too  d— d  civilized  for  me. 


54  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

I'll  make  tracks  for  Oregon  or  some  other  country  where  an  old  pioneer  can 
get  justice.'  ' 

THE   DISAPPEARANCE   OF  THE   BUFFALO. 

When  Illinois  was  first  visited  by  white  men,  the  prairies  were  one  great 
pasture  for  countless  herds  of  buffaloes.  Father  Marquette  and  his  companion, 
Louis  Joliet,  when  reaching  the  Illinois  country  on  their  voyage  down  the  Mis- 
sissippi, saw  upon  the  banks  of  that  stream  vast  herds  of  the  animals.  On  their 
return,  and  while  going  up  the  Illinois,  the  animals  were  everywhere  to  be  seen, 
and  as  one  of  the  father's  records,  they  were  so  numerous  as  to  be  countless. 

The  flesh  of  the  buffalo  furnished  the  natives  with  the  greater  part  of  their 
food,  their  skins  with  clothing,  bedding  and  tents,  their  sinews  for  bows,  their 
bones  for  implements  and  ornaments,  while  their  hair  they  wove  into  a  fabric 
for  dress ;  hence,  this  disappearance  of  the  buffalo  from  the  country.  Deprived, 
then,  of  the  many  necessities  of  life,  the  exact  time  when  they  disappeared  or 
left  the  country  is  unknown  but  from  the  best  accounts  that  can  be  obtained 
it  was  about  1780  they  were  seen  swimming  the  Illinois  river  in  vast  herds. 
As  late  as  1778,  but  a  year  or  two  later,  there  was  a  big  snow  storm  that  covered 
the  ground  to  the  depth  of  three  feet,  and  upon  the  top  was  a  thick  crust  of 
ice  that  would  bear  a  man.  The  next  spring  a  few  buffaloes,  poor  and  emaciated, 
were  seen  going  westward,  but  in  many  places  hundreds  of  carcasses  of  the  dead 
animals  were  to  be  found  lying  on  the  prairie.  What  few  were  left  went  across 
the  Mississippi  and  it  was  seldom  that  one  was  seen  east  of  that  river  after 
that  time.  Forty  years  afterward  the  skulls  and  bones  were  to  be  seen  in  places 
extending  for  miles. 

CHEVALIER   HENRY   DE   TONTY. 

Few  of  the  writers  of  the  early  history  of  Illinois  give  much  of  an  account 
of  the  life  of  this  most  faithful  and  intrepid  companion  of  La  Salle  in  his  early 
voyages  and  explorations  in  the  Illinois  Territory.  When  referred  to,  he  is 
spoken  of  as  the  "Faithful  Tonty ;"  that  he  was  a  Frenchman  by  birth,  and  had 
lost  a  hand  in  battle.  It  is  our  purpose,  however,  to  here  give  some  accounts 
of  his  early  life  and  history. 

Chevalier  Henry  De  Tonty  was  born  in  Naples  in  1650.  He  was  a  son  of 
Lorenzo  Tonty,  a  banker  and  prominent  man  of  that  city.  He  received  an  ex- 
cellent education  for  those  times  and  when  eighteen  years  of  age  he  entered  the 
French  army  and  served  one  year.  It  was  an  active  one,  however,  for  he  was 
in  seven  campaigns  and  although  he  entered  the  service  as  a  cadet,  yet  he  was 
successively  promoted  as  captain,  and  at  Messina,  Spain,  he  was  placed  in  charge 
of  20,000  men. 

During  the  battle  of  Libisso,  a  grenade  shot  away  his  right  hand  and  it  is 
told  of  him  that  while  awaiting  the  delayed  services  of  the  surgeon,  he  with 
admirable  nerve,  amputated  the  ragged  stump  with  a  knife.  The  lost  hand  of 
flesh  was  replaced  by  one  of  iron,  on  which  he  usually  wore  a  glove.  There 
is  some  dispute  among  historians  as  to  whether  the  hand  that  replaced  that  of 
flesh  was  of  iron,  copper,  or  silver,  but  whatever  it  was  it  served  his  purpose 
well,  and  in  some  instances  was  better  than  the  one  he  lost.  In  his  dealings 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  55 

with  the  Indians,  it  is  said  if  they  became  disorderly  or  unruly  he  used  that 
hand  upon  the  heads  of  the  contumaceous  ones,  sometimes  breaking  or  knocking 
out  their  teeth.  They,  not  knowing  the  secret  of  the  efficacy  of  the  blow,  re- 
garded it  as  a  "medicine  of  the  first  order." 

He  was  taken  a  prisoner  at  Libisso  by  the  Spaniards  and  was  confined  for 
six  months,  and  his  release  was  effected  by  exchanging  for  him  the  son  of  the 
governor  of  that  place.  Upon  returning  to  France  the  king  bestowed  three 
hundred  livres  upon  him  in  recognition  of  his  services. 

In  1677  La  Salle  reached  France  from  Montreal  to  seek  the  aid  of  the  court 
in  the  prosecution  of  the  vast  designs  he  had  formed  for  exploring  the  unknown 
interior  of  the  continent  south  of  the  Great  Lakes.  Upon  the  recommendation 
of  Prince  Conti,  whose  favor  Tonty  seems  to  have  won  by  his  valorous  conduct 
in  the  French  wars,  La  Salle  engaged  the  young  man  as  his  lieutenant. 

They  sailed  from  Rochelle,  July  14,  1678,  to  Quebec,  where  after  a  voyage 
of  two  months,  they  arrived  and  there  La  Salle  learned  to  appreciate  the  many 
good  qualities  of  heart  of  which  his  lieutenant  was  to  give  him  later  on  such 
signal  proof.  It  was  there  that  La  Salle  formed  the  only  intimate  friendship  of 
his  life  and  was  rewarded  by  attaching  to  himself  a  man  whose  loyalty  and  dis- 
interested devotion  ceased  only  with  death. 

La  Salle  had  formed  a  plan  to  follow  up  the  discoveries  of  Joliet  and  Father 
Marquette  in  their  voyage  down  the  Mississippi,  and  to  ascertain  by  descending 
that  river  to  its  mouth,  whether  it  emptied  into  the  Gulf  of  California,  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico,  or  was  indeed  the  long  sought  medium  of  communication  with 
Japan  and  China,  the  Cipangang  Cathay  of  Marco  Polo.  They  had  brought 
over  with  them  all  necessary  ropes,  anchors  and  other  material  for  building  a 
vessel  to  navigate  the  lakes,  expert  artisans  also  being  brought  along,  who  were 
skilled  in  the  construction  of  vessels. 

They  at  once  set  about  the  work  of  preparing  for  their  long  and  tedious  jour- 
ney. The  marvelous  energy  and  fertility  of  resources  displayed  by  Tonty  aston- 
ished as  well  as  delighted  La  Salle.  In  writing  to  Prince  Conti  after  landing 
in  Canada,  he  said :  "His  honorable  character,  his  amiable  disposition,  were 
well  known  to  you  but  perhaps  you  would  not  have  thought  him  capable  of 
doing  things  for  which  a  strange  constitution,  an  acquaintance  with  the  coun- 
try, and  the  full  use  of  both  hands  seemed  absolutely  necessary.  Nevertheless, 
his  energy  and  address  made  him  equal  to  anything  and  now  at  a  season  when 
everybody  is  in  fear  of  the  ice,  he  is  setting  out  to  begin  a  new  fort  two  hun- 
dred leagues  from  this  place." 

In  going  from  Fort  Frontenac  to  Niagara,'  on  Lake  Ontario,  Tonty  ex- 
perienced the  first  evidence  of  the  secret  hostility  directed  against  La  Salle.  The 
boat  in  which  they  came  was  wrecked  through  obstinacy  of  the  pilot,  who  had 
doubtless  been  tampered  with  by  the  enemies  of  La  Salle.  Niagara,  a  place  above 
the  falls,  had  been  selected  as  the  site  for  the  shipyard.  It  was  the  dead  of  win- 
ter but  the  work  of  building  the  \essel  was  begun  with  great  energy.  They 
had  brought  up  the  St.  Lawrence  and  along  the  twelve  mile  portage  trail  of 
the  Niagara  gorge  the  anchors  and  other  material  necessary  for  the  equipment 
of  the  vessel  they  were  to  build.  La  Salle  remained  long  enough  to  drive  the 


56  HISTORY  OF  MACOLTIN  COUNTY 

first  bolt  and  then  returned  to  Fort  Frontenac.  He  left  Tonty  in  command,  with 
full  instructions  to  complete  the  vessel. 

It  was  a  heavy  task  that  was  thus  imposed  upon  Tonty.  If  he  had  an  iron 
hand,  he  had  a  will  of  steel.  The  Senecas,  an  Indian  tribe  that  was  in  the 
vicinity,  were  not  only  enemies  of  La  Salle  but  they  were  also  suspicious  that 
the  ribbed  structure  growing  before  their  eyes  meant  menace  to  their  fur  trade 
in  the  west,  which  they  had  heretofore  monopolized,  and  threatened  to  make  a 
bonfire  of  the  vessel.  Provisions  were  scarce,  the  wrecked  boat  having  con- 
tained the  needed  supply.  But  two  New  England  Indians  that  La  Salle  had 
attached  to  the  expedition  became. his  devoted  followers  and  by  their  prowess 
saved  the  thirty  men  with  Tonty  and  Father  Hennepin.  It  was  a  long  and 
tedious  winter  that  tried  the  patience  as  well  as  the  courage  of  the  ever  faithful 
Tonty  to  keep  the  enemies  at  bay,  and  at  the  same  time  supply  his  men  with 
food  while  they  pursued  their  labors  on  the  vessel. 

It  was  under  these  trying  circumstances  that  the  first  vessel  that  ever  plied 
the  waters  of  Lakes  Erie,  Huron  and  Michigan  was  constructed.  The  Indians 
were  wily  as  well  as  treacherous  and  as  the  vessel  neared  completion  they  con- 
stantly menaced  the  workmen.  They,  however,  completed  it,  and  in  May  it 
was  ready  to  be  launched.  Amid  the  roar  of  cannon  and  the  chorus  of  the  "Te 
Deum"  from  the  bearded  workmen,  the  vessel  slid  from  her  docks  into  the 
waters  of  the  Niagara  river  and  it  was  then  safe  from  all  harm  or  molestation 
from  the  hostile  natives.  It  was  towed  out  in  mid-stream  and  there  anchored  as  a 
precaution  from  any  further  interference.  The  five  cannon  on  board  peeped 
through  the  port  holes  upon  the  Indians  on  the  bank,  giving  them  warning  of 
danger  should  they  attempt  to  make  any  hostile  visits  to  the  vessel. 

It  was  not  until  summer  was  well  advanced  that  La  Salle  joined  the  party 
on  board  the  Griffin,  as  the  vessel  was  christened.  It  was  so  named  in  honor 
of  Count  Frontenac,  the  governor  of  New  France,  as  Canada  was  then  called, 
that  monster  being  his  heraldic  emblem. 

Tonty  went  in  a  bark  canoe  ahead  of  the  Griffin  up  Lake  Erie,  in  order  to 
look  up  some  men  and  supplies  that  La  Salle  had  ordered  at  the  straits  of 
Detroit.  He  reached  there  all  right  and  found  his  men  and  the  vessel.  They 
were  taken  on  board  and  the  vessel  sailed  up  the  straits  toward  Lake  Huron. 
Their  voyage  up  that  lake  was  a  stormy  one.  The  fall  gales  that  prevailed  sent 
the  small  craft  forward,  trembling  in  every  part.  But  they  weathered  the  gale 
and  on  the  27th  of  August  they  reached  Michilimackinac.  the  Jesuit  stronghold 
for  the  whole  western  country. 

Early  in  September  the  Griffin  sailed  into  Green  Bay,  mooring  at  one  of 
the  islands,  which  is  thought  to  have  been  Washington  Isle,  whose  astonished 
inhab'tants  gazed  in  wonder  at  the  "house  that  walked  on  the  water."  La 
Salle  loaded  the  vessel  with  beaver  skins  which  had  cost  60,000  livres  ($12,000). 
The  vessel  was  never  seen  again.  Whether  she  foundered  in  a  gale  or  wa< 
destroyed  by  the  crew  was  never  known. 

La  Salle  and  Tonty  then  went  up  Lake  Michigan,  as  before  described,  and 
also  their  going  to  Peoria  lake,  erecting  the  fort,  Creve  Coeur,  fortifying  the 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIX  COUNTY  57 

Rock,  and  their  return  to  Green  Bay  have  all  been  fully  given  in  our  history  of 
the  northwest. 

DEATH    OF  TONTY. 

Tonty  toiled  for  nearly  twenty  years  to  maintain  Fort  St.  Louis  on  the  Rock 
but  was  at  last  compelled  to  abandon  it.  It  had  been  the  pet  scheme  of  his  friend 
and  companion,  La  Salle,  that  a  fort  should  be  maintained  there,  as  it  was 
known  to  be  impregnable  to  any  assault  that  then  could  be  made,  and  so  reluc- 
tantly he  obeyed  a  royal  decree  and  left  it  forever.  As  he  floated  down  the 
beautiful  Illinois  river  with  his  few  followers,  he  waved  back  a  sad  farewell  to 
the  bold,  high  rock  upon  whose  topmost  level  he  had  made  his  home  for  so  many 
years.  That  was  in  the  spring  of  1699.  He  was  then  on  his  way  south  to  join 
the  Louisiana  colonies  at  old  Biloxi,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi.  The  colon- 
ists received  him  with  open  arms  and  for  four  years  he  shared  their  varied 
fortunes,  aiding  them  in  every  way  with  his  knowledge  of  woodcraft  and  savage 
lore.  Through  his  efforts  the  neighboring  Indians  were  pacified  and  many  of 
them  became  the  allies  of  the  colonists  in  their  troubles  with  other  tribes  that 
were  hostile  to  them. 

In  1704  a  vessel  arrived  with  supplies  from  Havana,  but  ere  the  colonists 
could  rejoice  at  the  acquisition  of  the  stores  it  was  learned  that  the  vessel  con- 
tained the  germs  of  that  terrible  scourge,  yellow  fever.  The  vessel's  crew  had 
been  nearly  exterminated  by  it.  It  spread  among  the  colonists  and  more  than 
one-half  of  them  lay  dead.  Tonty  nursed  the  living  and  helped  to  bury  the 
dead.  But  soon  he,  too,  was  stricken  with  the  dread  disease  and  in  the  month 
of  September,  1704,  a  grave  was  dug  in  the  soil  of  old  Biloxi  and  therein  was 
laid  one  of  the  most  unselfish  and  loyal,  as  he  was  one  of  the  most  intrepid  of 
the  knightly  men  who  first  blazed  a  path  whence  civilization  entered  into  what 
has  since  become  the  great  empire  of  the  northwest. 

WHERE   WAS   PONTIAC   ASSASSINATED? 

In  our  history  of  Illinois  in  this  work  we  have  stated  that  the  Indian  war 
chieftain,  Pontiac,  was  assassinated  at  Cahokia,  and  we  have  done  so  upon  what 
we  consider  the  very  best  of  authorities  upon  the  subject. 

Nearly  every  writer  or  historian  who  has  alluded  to  or  written  of  the  death 
of  that  celebrated  chieftain  in  the  several  histories  of  the  state,  so  far  as  we 
can  learn,  with  but  one  exception,  all  assert  that  he  was  assassinated  at  Cahokia. 
In  fact,  there  is  no  mention  in  any  of  them  that  there  was  any  question  but  that 
was  the  place,  and  they  give  in  detail  all  the  circumstances  attending  his  death. 
Moses,  in  his  history  of  Illinois ;  Perrin,  in  his  outlines  of  Illinois  history ;  Dres- 
bach,  in  his  "Young  People's  History  of  Illinois;"  and  Parish,  in  his  "Historic 
Illinois,"  all  name  Cahokia  as  the  place  of  his  assassination.  One  of  the  best 
authorities  on  the  subject,  as  we  view  it,  is  Osmon's  "History  of  Starved  Rock." 
He  not  only  gives  a  very  clear  and  comprehensive  description  of  the  tragedy, 
but  enters  into  all  the  details  of  the  Indian  feuds  and  troubles  prior  to  that  time 
with  great  exactness. 

It  is  generally  conceded  by  all  writers  of  Illinois  history  that  the  Illinois 
Indians  had  all  left  the  northern  part  of  the  state  at  the  time  of  Pontiac's  last 


58  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

visit  to  the  territory  and  had  gone  to  Cahokia  or  near  there ;  that  they  had  built 
villages  there  and  were  under  the  protection  of  the  French  who  had  settled 
there  and  that  Pontiac,  learning  of  the  fact  that  the  Illinois  Indians  had  col- 
lected at  Cahokia,  went  there,  as  he  said,  "to  have  a  big  spree,"  but  as  it  was 
well  thought  by  the  people,  to  make  trouble  by  inducing  the  Indians  to  make 
war  upon  the  white  inhabitants.  A  barrel  of  whisky  was  a  big  inducement  to 
an  Indian  and  he  would  doubtless  have  killed  almost  any  one,  even  his  own 
squaw  or  mother,  in  order  to  possess  it. 

On  the  other  hand,  Matson,  in  his  "History  of  Illinois,"  which  is  a  very  good 
authority  on  most  subjects  pertaining  to  the  early  history  of  our  state,  says 
Pontiac  was  assassinated  at  Joliet  Mound,  by  an  Indian  named  Kineboo,  for 
revenge,  Pontiac  at  some  time  having  done  Kineboo  a  great  wrong.  Now  it  is 
for  the  reader  to  judge  which  of  the  authorities  is  the  most  probably  correct. 
To  us,  the  Cahokia  story  is  altogether  the  most  reasonable  and  plausible.  We 
are  aware  that  Indian  revenge  will  go  a  long  ways  in  a  red  man's  makeup  but 
not  so  far  as  a  barrel  of  whisky.  It  was  a  terrible  inducement  to  an  Indian  and 
one  that  no  Indian  would  refuse. 

BLACK     HAWK     WAR. 

When  the  United  States  assumed  control  of  the  country  by  reason  of  its 
purchase  from  France,  nearly  the  whole  state  was  in  possession  of  the  Sacs  and 
Foxes,  a  powerful  and  warlike  nation,  who  were  not  disposed  to  submit  without 
a  struggle  to  what  they  regarded  the  encroachment  on  their  rights  of  the  pale 
faces.  Among  the  most  noted  chiefs  and  one  whose  restlessness  and  hatred  of 
the  whites  occasioned  more  trouble  to  the  government  than  any  other  of  his 
tribe,  was  Black  Hawk,  who  was  born  at  the  Sac  village,  on  the  Rock  river,  in 
1767.  He  was  simply  the  chief  of  his  own  band  of  Sac  warriors;  but  by  his 
energy  and  ambition  he  became  the  leading  spirit  of  the  united  nation  of  the 
Sacs  and  Foxes,  and  one  of  the  prominent  figures  in  the  history  of  the  country 
from  1804  until  his  death.  In  early  manhood  he  attained  distinction  as  a  fight- 
ing chief,  having  led  campaigns  against  the  Osages  and  other  neighboring  tribes. 
About  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century  he  began  to  appear  prominent 
in  affairs  on  the  Mississippi.  His  life  was  a  marvel.  He  is  said  by  some  to 
have  been  the  victim  of  a  narrow  prejudice  and  bitter  ill  will  against  the  Amer- 
icans. 

November  3,  1804,  a  treaty  was  concluded  between  William  Henry  Harri- 
son, then  governor  of  the  Indian  Territory,  on  behalf  of  the  United  States,  and 
five  chiefs  of  the  Sac  and  Fox  nations  by  which  the  latter,  in  consideration  of 
$2,234  >n  goods  then  delivered,  and  a  yearly  annuity  of  $  1,000  to  be  paid  in  goods 
at  just  cost,  ceded  to  the  United  States  all  that  land  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Missouri  extending  from'  a  point  opposite  the  Jefferson,  in  Missouri,  to  the 
Wisconsin  river,  embracing  an  area  of  fifty-one  million  acres.  To  this  treaty 
Black  Hawk  always  objected  and  always  refused  to  consider  it  binding  upon 
his  people.  He  asserted  that  the  chiefs  and  braves  who  made  it  had  no  authority 
to  relinquish  the  title  of  the  nation  to  any  of  the  lands  they  held  or  occupied 
and.  moreover,  to  get  one  of  their  people  released,  who  had  been  imprisoned  at 
St.  Louis  for  killing  a  white  man. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  59 

% 

In  1805  Lieutenant  Pike  came  up  the  river  for  the  purpose  of  holding  friendly 
council  with  the  Indians  and  selecting  sites  for  forts  within  the  territory  recently 
acquired  from  France  by  the  United  States.  Lieutenant  Pike  seems  to  have 
been  the  first  American  whom  Black  Hawk  had  met  or  had  a  personal  inter- 
view with  and  was  very  much  impressed  in  his  favor.  Pike  gave  a  very  interest- 
ing account  of  his  visit  to  the  noted  chief. 

Fort  Edwards  was  erected  soon  after  Pike's  expedition,  at  what  is  now 
Warsaw,  Illinois,  also  Fort  Madison,  on  the  site  of  the  present  town  of  that 
name,  the  latter  being  the  first  fort  erected  in  Iowa.  These  movements  occa- 
sioned great  uneasiness  among  the  Indians.  When  work  was  commenced  on 
Fort  Edwards,  a  delegation,  from  the  nation,  headed  by  their  chiefs,  went  down 
to  see  what  the  Americans  were  doing  and  had  an  interview  with  the  com- 
mander, after  which  they  returned  home  and  were  apparently  satisfied.  In 
like  manner,  when  Fort  Madison  was  being  erected,  they  sent  down  another 
delegation  from  a  council  of  the  nation  held  at  Rock  river.  According  to  Black 
Hawk's  account,  the  American  chief  told  them  he  was  building  a  house  for 
a  trader,  who  was  coming  to  sell  them  goods  cheap,  and  that  the  soldiers  were 
coming  to  keep  him  company — a  statement  which  Black  Hawk  says  they  dis- 
trusted at  the  time,  believing  that  the  fort  was  an  encroachment  upon  their 
rights,  and  designed  to  aid  in  getting  their  lands  away  from  them.  It  is  claimed 
by  good  authority  that  the  building  of  Fort  Madison  was  a  violation  of  the 
treaty  of  1804.  By  the  eleventh  article  of  that  treaty  the  United  States  had 
the  right  to  build  a  fort  near  the  mouth  of  the  Wisconsin  river,  and  by  article  six 
they  bound  themselves  "that  if  any  citizen  of  the  United  States  or  any  other 
white  person  should  form  a  settlement  upon  their  lands  such  intruder  should 
forthwith  be  removed."  Probably  the  authorities  of  the  United  States  did  not 
regard  the  establishment  of  military  posts  as  coming  properly  within  the  mean- 
ing of  the  term  "settlement"  as  used  in  the  treaty.  At  all  events,  they  erected 
Fort  Madison  within  the  territory  reserved  to  the  Indians,  who  became  very 
indignant.  Very  soon  after  the  fort  was  built,  a  party  led  by  Black  Hawk  at- 
tempted its  destruction.  They  sent  spies  to  watch  the  movements  of  the  garri- 
son, who  ascertained  that  the  soldiers  were  in  the  habit  of  marching  out  of  the 
fort  every  morning  and  evening  for  parade  and  the  plan  of  the  party  was  to 
conceal  themselves  near  the  fort  and  attack  and  surprise  them  when  they  were 
outside.  On  the  morning  of  the  proposed  day  of  the  attack  five  soldiers  came 
out  and  were  fired  upon  by  the  Indians,  two  of  them  being  killed.  The  Indians 
were  too  hasty  in  their  movements,  for  the  parade  had  not  commenced.  How- 
ever, they  kept  up  the  siege  several  days,  attempting  the  old  strategy  of  setting 
fire  to  the  fort  with  blazing  arrows,  but  finding  their  efforts  unavailing,  they  de- 
sisted and  returned  to  their  wigwams  on  Rock  river.  In  1812,  when  war  was 
declared  between  this  country  and  Great  Britain,  Black  Hawk  and  his  band  allied 
themselves  with  the  British,  partly  because  he  was  dazzled  by  their  specious 
promises  but  more  probably  because  they  were  deceived  by  the  Americans. 
Black  Hawk  himself  declared  they  were  forced  into  the  war  by  having  been 
deceived.  He  narrates  the  circumstances  as  follows :  "Several  of  the  head  men 
and  chiefs  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  were  called  upon  to  go  to  Washington  to  see 
their  great  father.  On  their  return  they  related  what  had  been  said  and  done. 


60  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

They  said  the  great  father  wished  them,  in  the  event  of  war  taking  place  with 
England,  not  to  interfere  on  either  side  but  to  remain  neutral.  He  did  not 
want  our  help  but  wished  us  to  hunt  and  support  our  families  and  live  in  peace. 
He  said  that  British  traders  would  not  be  permitted  to  come  on  the  Mississippi 
to  furnish  us  with  goods  but  that  we  should  be  supplied  by  an  American  trader. 
Our  chiefs  then  told  him  that  the  British  traders  always  gave  them  credit  in 
the  fall  for  guns,  powder  and  goods,  to  enable  us  to  hunt  and  clothe  our  fam- 
ilies. He  repeated  that  the  traders  at  Fort  Madison  would  have  plenty  of 
goods ;  that  we  should  go  there  in  the  fall  and  he  would  supply  us  on  credit, 
as  the  British  traders  had  done."  Black  Hawk  seems  to  have  accepted  the 
proposition  and  he  and  his  people  were  very  much  pleased.  Acting  in  good 
faith,  they  fitted  out  for  their  winter's  hunt  and  went  to  Fort  Madison  in  high 
spirits  to  receive  from  the  trader  their  outfit  of  supplies ;  but  after  waiting 
some  time  they  were  told  by  the  trader  that  he  would  not  trust  them.  In  vain 
they  pleaded  the  promise  of  their  great  father  at  Washington ;  the  trader  was 
inexorable.  Disappointed  and  crestfallen,  the  Indians  turned  sadly  to  their 
own  village.  Says  Black  Hawk:  "Few  of  us  slept  that  night.  All  was  gloom 
and  discontent.  In  the  morning  a  canoe  was  seen  ascending  the  river;  it  soon 
arrived  bearing  an  express,  who  brought  intelligence  that  a  British  trader  had 
landed  at  Rock  Island  with  two  boats  filled  with  goods,  and  requested  us  to 
come  up  immediately,  because  he  had  good  news  for  us  and  a  variety  of  presents. 
The  express  presented  us  with  pipes,  tobacco  and  wampum.  The  news  ran 
through  our  camp  like  fire  on  the  prairie.  Our  lodges  were  soon  taken  down 
and  all  started  for  Rock  Island.  Here  ended  all  our  hopes  of  remaining  at 
peace,  having  been  forced  into  the  war  by  being  deceived."  He  joined  the  Brit- 
ish, who  flattered  him  and  styled  him  ''General  Black  Hawk,"  decked  him 
with  medals,  excited  his  jealousy  against  the  Americans  and  armed  his  band 
but  he  met  with  defeat  and  disappointment  and  soon  abandoned  the  service  and 
returned  home. 

There  was  a  portion  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  whom  Black  Hawk,  with  all  his 
skill  and  cunning,  could  not  lead  into  hostilities  against  the  United  States. 
With  Keokuk,  the  "Watchful  Fox,"  at  their  head,  they  were  disposed  to  abide 
by  the  treaty  of  1804  and  to  cultivate  friendly  relations  with  the  American 
people.  So  when  Black  Hawk  and  his  band  joined  the  fortunes  of  Great  Britain, 
the  rest  of  the  nation  remained  neutral  and  for  protection  organized  with  Keokuk 
for  their  chief.  Thus  the  nation  was  divided  into  the  "war  party"  and  "peace 
party."  Keokuk  became  one  of  the  nation's  great  chiefs.  In  person  he  was 
tall  and  of  portly  bearing.  He  has  been  described  as  an  orator,  entitled  to  rank 
with  the  most  gifted  of  his  race,  and  through  the  eloquence  of  his  tongue  he  pre- 
vailed upon  a  large  body  of  his  people  to  remain  friendly  to  the  Americans.  As 
has  been  said,  the  treaty  of  1804,  between  the  United  States  and  the  Sac  and  Fox 
nations  was  never  acknowledged  by  Black  Hawk  and  in  1831  he  established  him- 
self with  a  chosen  band  of  warriors  upon  the  disputed  territory,  ordering  the 
whites  to  leave  the  country  at  once.  The  settlers  complaining.  Governor  Rey- 
nolds of  Illinois  despatched  General  Gaines,  with  a  company  of  regulars  and 
one  thousand,  five  hundred  volunteers  to  the  scene  of  action.  Taking  the  Indians 
by  surprise,  the  troops  burned  their  village  'and  forced  them  to  conclude  a 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  61 

treaty,  by  which  they  ceded  all  their  lands  east  of  the  Mississippi  and  agreed  to 
remain  on  the  west  side  of  the  river. 

Necessity  forced  the  proud  spirit  of  Black  Hawk  into  submission,  which 
made  him  more  than  ever  determined  to  be  avenged  upon  his  enemies.  Having 
rallied  around  him  the  warlike  braves  of  the  Sac  and  Fox  nations,  he  recrossed 
the  Mississippi  in  the  spring  of  1832. 

This  armed  array  of  savages  soon  alarmed  the  settlers  and  a  general  panic 
spread  through  the  whole  frontier,  from  the  Mississippi  to  Lake  Michigan. 
Many  settlers  in  terror  abandoned  their  homes  and  farms  and  the  Governor 
decided,  on  the  i6th  of  April,  to  call  out  a  large  number  of  volunteers  to  operate 
in  conjunction  with  General  Atkinson,  who  was  in  command  of  the  regular 
forces  at  Rock  Island.  The  Governor  ordered  the  troops  to  rendezvous  at 
Beardstown  on  the  22d  of  April.  Governor  Reynolds'  circular  which  he  ad- 
dressed to  the  citizen  soldiers  in  the  crisis  then  pending,  follows : 
"To  the  Militia  of  the  Northwestern  Section  of  the  State: 

"FELLOW  CITIZENS:  Your  country  requires  your  services.  The  Indians  have 
assumed  hostile  attitude,  and  have  invaded  the  state  in  violation  of  the  treaty 
of  last  summer.  The  British  band  of  Sacs  and  other  hostile  Indians,  headed 
by  Hlack  Hawk,  are  in  possession  of  the  Rock  river  country,  to  the  great  terror 
of  the  frontier  inhabitants.  I  consider  the  settlers  on  the  frontiers  to  be  in  im- 
minent danger.  I  am  in  possession  of  the  above  information  from  gentlemen 
of  respectable  standing,  and  also  from  General  Atkinson,  whose  character  stands 
high  with  all  classes.  In  possession  of  the  above  facts  I  have  hesitated  not  as 
to  the  course  I  should  pursue.  No  citizen  ought  to  remain  inactive  when  his 
country  is  invaded  and  the  helpless  part  of  the  community  are  in  danger.  I 
have  called  out  a  large  detachment  of  militia  to  rendezvous  at  Beardstown  on  the 
22d.  Provisions  for  the  men  and  food  for  the  horses  will  be  furnished  in  abun- 
dance. I  hope  my  countrymen  will  realize  my  expectations  and  offer  their  serv- 
ices, as  heretofore,  with  promptitude  and  cheerfulness  in  defense  of  their  country. 

"JOHN  REYNOLDS." 

To  the  stirring  appeal  of  the  Governor  the  patriotic  citizens  of  the  state  and 
Macoupin  county  nobly  responded.  Many  of  the  best  and  prominent  men  of  the 
county  enlisted  to  protect  the  frontier  and  preserve  the  honor  of  the  state  and 
did  signal  service  in  the  memorable  events  of  the  Black  Hawk  war.  Among 
the  citizens  of  Macoupin  county  who  went  out  were  as  follows: 

Officers :  Captain  Harris,  afterward  better  known  to  the  citizens  of  this 
county  as  General  Harris,  who  organized  the  first  company.  Captain  Bennett 
Nolan  also  organized  a  company.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Powell  H.  Sharp,  then 
a  resident  of  what  is  now  Scottville  township,  ranked  as  lieutenant  colonel  in 
this  war  and  is  spoken  of  as  a  brave  man.  William  Coop,  Jefferson  Weather- 
ford  and  the  late  Judge  John  Yowell  were  commissioned  lieutenants.  The  two 
former  were  lieutenants  in  Captain  Harris'  company  and  the  latter  a  lieutenant 
in  Captain  Nolan's  company.  Aquilla  P.  Pepperdine  was  the  orderly  sergeant 
in  Captain  Harris'  company.  Thomas  McVey  and  John  Lewis  were  also  ser- 
geants in  the  same  company.  Captain  Harris'  company  rendezvoused  at  Beards- 
town  and  was  mustered  at  Rock  Island  under  command  of  Colonel  A.  B.  Du- 
witt  of  Jacksonville.  William  J.  Weatherford  was  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  regi- 


62  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

ment.  A  portion  of  the  Macoupin  county  men  were  in  the  regiment  commanded 
by  Colonel  James  Collins.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Sharp  was  attached  to  this  regi- 
ment. Of  the  private  soldiers  from  this  county  may  be  mentioned  the  follow- 
ing: George  Mathews,  Oliver  W.  Hall,  Lewis  Solomon,  Jr.,  Theodorus  Davis, 
James  Hall,  John  Bayless,  John  Coop,  Hardin  Weatherford,  Ransom  Coop,  a 
Mr.  Powell,  Hiram  English,  Thomas  Thurman,  Reverdy  English,  David  Rusk, 
Joshua  Martin,  Travis  Moore,  Samuel  Cummings,  Samuel  D.  Ray,  Wilford 
Palmer,  Larkin  Richardson,  Samuel  McVey,  John  Chapman,  Charles  McVey, 
Mathew  Withrow,  Aaron  Sample,  John  Ross,  Spencer  Norville,  Charles  Lair, 
William  Talkington,  James  White,  Achilles  Deatheridge,  E.  H.  Richards,  John 
England,  George  Sprouse,  Harvey  McPeters  and  Zachariah  Stewart. 

Captain  Thomas  S.  Gelder,  then  a  resident  of  Greene  county,  served  in  the 
campaign  of  1831  and  immediately  after  his  return  settled  with  his  father  on  a 
farm  in  Chesterfield  township. 

Among  those  who  enlisted  from  Macoupin  county  in  Captain  Kinkead's  com- 
pany of  Greene  county  were :  John  Record,  Isham  Caudle,  Isaac  McCollum  and 
Isaac  Prewitt.  There  may  have  been  others  but  these  are  all  the  names  that 
we  have  been  able  to  gather,  as  no  official  record  has  been  preserved  at  Spring- 
field. Few  of  the  hardy  soldiers  of  this  war  remain  with  us.  Many  after  the 
war  was  ended  moved  to  other  sections  of  the  country  and  many  others  have 
passed  over  the  river  and  are  now  in  the  embrace  of  the  silent  sleep  of  death. 

The  force  marched  to  the  mouth  of  Rock  river,  where  General  Atkinson 
received  the  volunteers  into  the  United  States  service  and  assumed  command. 
Black  Hawk  and  his  warriors  were  still  up  on  Rock  river. 

The  army  under  Atkinson  commenced  its  march  up  the  river  on  the  gth  of 
May.  Governor  Reynolds,  the  gallant  "Old  Ranger,"  remained  with  the  army, 
and  the  President  recognized  him  as  a  major  general  and  he  was  paid  accord- 
ingly. His  presence  in  the  army  did  much  toward  harmonizing  and  conciliating 
those  jealousies  which  generally  exist  between  volunteers  and  regular  troops. 
Major  John  A.  Wakefield  and  Colonel  Ewing  acted  as  spies  for  a  time  in  the 
campaign  of  1832,  to  discover  the  location  of  the  enemy  if  possible.  A  Mr. 
Kinney  acted  as  guide  for  them.  He  understood  the  Sac  dialect.  On  the  i4th 
of  May,  1832,  Major  Stillman's  command  had  a  sort  of  running  battle  with 
the  Indians  at  or  near  what  is  now  known  as  Stillman's  run,  a  small,  sluggish 
stream.  In  this  engagement  eleven  white  men  and  eight  Indians  were  killed. 
Black  Hawk  and  warriors  fought  with  the  spirit  born  of  desperation.  Black 
Hawk  says  in  his  book  that  he  tried  at  Stillman's  run  to  call  back  his  warriors, 
as  he  thought  the  whites  were  making  a  sham  retreat  in  order  to  draw  him  into 
an  ambuscade  of  the  whole  army  under  General  Whiteside.  The  hasty  retreat 
and  rout  of  Stillman  and  his  army  was  in  a  measure  demoralizing  to  the  entire 
forces.  Undoubtedly  the  cause  of  the  defeat  was  a  lack  of  discipline.  When 
Governor  Reynolds  learned  of  the  disaster  of  Major  Stillman,  he  at  once  ordered 
out  two  thousand  additional  volunteers.  With  that  promptitude  characteristic 
of  the  old  "War  Governor,"  he  wrote  out  by  candle  light  on  the  evening  of 
Stillman's  defeat,  the  order  for  additional  troops,  and  by  daylight  dispatched 
John  Ewing,  Robert  Blackwell  and  John  A.  Wakefield  to  distribute  the  order  to 
the  various  counties.  The  volunteers  again  promptly  responded.  However,  the 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  63 

soldiers  from  this  county  did  but  little  fighting.  On  the  loth  of  July  the  army 
disbanded  for  want  of  provisions.  General  Scott  arrived  soon  after  with  a  large 
force  at  the  post  of  Chicago,  to  effect,  if  possible,  a  treaty  with  the  Indians.  Small 
detachments  of  Black  Hawk's  warriors  would  persistently  hang  on  the  outskirts 
of  the  main  body  of  the  army,  thieve  and  plunder,  and  pounce  upon  and  kill 
the  lonely  sentinel  or  straggling  soldier.  On  the  I5th  of  July  the  soldiers  were 
reviewed  and  those  incapable  of  duty  were  discharged  and  returned  home.  Po- 
quette,  a  half  breed,  and  a  Winnebago  chief,  the  "White  Pawnee,"  were  selected 
for  guides  to  the  camp  of  Black  Hawk  and  band.  Several  battles  and  skirmishes 
occurred  with  the  enemy,  the  principal  of  which  was  on  the  banks  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, where  the  warriors  fought  with  great  desperation.  Over  one  hundred 
and  fifty  were  killed  in  the  engagement  and  large  numbers  drowned  in  attempt- 
ing to  swim  the  river.  After  the  battle  the  volunteers  were  marched  to  Dixon, 
where  they  were  discharged.  This  ended  the  campaign  and  the  Black  Hawk 
war.  At  the  battle  of  Bad  Axe,  Black  Hawk  and  some  of  his  warriors  escaped 
the  Americans  and  had  gone  up  the  Wisconsin  river. 

The  Winnebagoes,  desirous  of  securing  the  friendship  of  the  whites,  went 
in  pursuit  and  captured  and  delivered  them  to  General  Street,  the  United  States 
Indian  agent.  Among  the  prisoners  were  the  son  of  Black  Hawk  and  the  prophet 
of  the  tribe.  These  with  Black  Hawk  were  taken  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  and 
soon  consigned  as  prisoners  to  Fortress  Monroe.  At  the  interview  Black  Hawk 
had  with  the  president  he  closed  his  speech  delivered  on  the  occasion  in  the  fol- 
lowing words :  "We  did  not  expect  to  conquer  the  whites.  They  have  too  many 
Rouses,  too  many  men.  I  took  up  the  hatchet,  for  my  part,  to  revenge  injuries 
which  my  people  would  no  longer  endure.  Had  I  borne  them  longer  without 
striking,  my  people  would  have  said :  'Black  Hawk  is  a  woman ;  he  is  too  old 
to  be  a  chief ;  he  is  no  Sac.'  These  reflections  caused  me  to  raise  the  war  whoop. 
I  say  no  more.  It  is  known  to  you.  Keokuk  once  was  here ;  yon 'took  him  by  the 
hand,  and  when  he  wished  to  return  to  his  home,  you  were  willing.  Black  Hawk 
expects  like  Keokuk,  he  shall  be  permitted  to  return,  too." 

By  order  of  the  president,  Black  Hawk  and  his  companions,  who  were  in 
confinement  at  Fortress  Monroe,  were  set  free  on  the  4th  day  of  June,  1833. 
After  their  release  from  prison  they  were  conducted  in  charge  of  Major  Gar- 
land through  some  of  the  principal  cities  that  they  might  witness  the  power  of  the 
United  States  and  learn  their  own  inability  to  cope  with  them  in  war.  Great 
multitudes  nocked  to  see  them  wherever  they  were  taken  and  the  attention  paid 
them  rendered  their  progress  through  the  country  a  triumphal  procession  instead 
of  prisoners  transported  by  an  officer.  At  Rock  Island  the  prisoners  were  given 
their  liberty  amid  great  and  impressive  ceremony.  In  1838  Black  Hawk  built  him 
a  dwelling  near  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  and  furnished  it  after  the  manner  of  the 
whites  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  together  with  hunting  and  fishing. 
There,  with  his  wife,  to  whom  he  was  greatly  attached,  he  passed  the  few  re- 
maining days  of  his  life.  To  his  credit  it  may  be  said  that  Black  Hawk  remained 
true  to  his  wife  and  served  her  with  "a  devotion  uncommon  among  Indians,  living 
with  her  upwards  of  forty  years. 

At  all  times  when  Black  Hawk  visited  the  whites  he  was  received  with  marked 
attention.  He  was  an  honored  guest  of  the  old  settlers'  reunion  in  Lee  county, 


64  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Illinois,  and  received  marked  tokens  of  esteem.  In  September,  1838,  while  on 
his  way  to  Rock  Island  to  receive  his  annuity  from  the  government,  he  contracted 
a  severe  cold,  which  resulted  in  an  intense  attack  of  bilious  fever,  and  termi- 
nated his  life  October  3d.  After  his  death  he  was  dressed  in  the  uniform  pre- 
sented him  by  the  president  while  in  Washington.  He  was  buried  in  a  grave 
six  feet  in  depth,  situated  upon  a  beautiful  eminence.  The  body  was  placed  in 
the  middle  of  the  grave,  in  a  sitting  position  upon  a  seat  constructed  for  the 
occasion.  On  his  left  side  the  cane  given  him  by  Henry  Clay  was  placed  up- 
right, with  his  right  hand  resting  upon  it.  His  remains  were  afterward  stolen 
and  carried  away  but  they  were  recovered  by  the  governor  of  Iowa  and  placed 
in  the  museum  of  the  Historical  Society,  at  Burlington,  Iowa,  where  they  were 
finally  destroyed  by  fire. 

Fort  Armstrong,  on  Rock  Island,  was  the  place  appointed  where  a  treaty 
would  be  made  with  the  Indians  but  before  it  was  effected  that  dreadful  scourge, 
the  cholera  of  1832,  visited  not  only  the  regular  army,  depleting  its  ranks  far 
more  rapidly  than  the  balls  of  the  Indians  had  done,  but  it  also  sought  out  its 
many  victims  in  the  dusky  bands  of  the  Black  Hawk  tribe. 

On  the  1 5th  of  September,  1832,  a  treaty  was  made  with  the  Winnebago 
Indians.  They  sold  out  all  their  lands  in  Illinois  and  all  south  of  the  Wisconsin 
river  and  west  of  Green  Bay  and  the  government  gave  them  a  large  district  of 
country  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  $10,000  a  year  for  seven  years,  besides  pro- 
viding free  schools  for  their  children  for  twenty  years,  oxen,  agricultural  im- 
plements, etc. 

September  21,  1832,  a  treaty  was  made  with  all  the  Sac  and  Fox  tribes,  on 
which  they  ceded  to  the  United  States  the  tract  of  country  on  which  a  few 
years  afterward  the  state  of  Iowa  was  formed.  In  consideration  of  the  above 
cession  of  lands,  the  government  gave  them  an  annuity  of  $20,000  for  thirty 
years,  forty  kegs  of  tobacco  and  forty  barrels  of  salt,  more  gunsmiths,  blacksmith 
shop,  etc.,  six  thousand  bushels  of  corn  for  immediate  support,  mostly  intended 
for  the  Black  Hawk  band. 

The  treaties  above  mentioned  terminated  favorably  and  the  security  result- 
ing therefrom  gave  a  new  and  rapid  impetus  to  the  development  of  the  state, 
and  now  enterprising  towns  and  villages  and  beautiful  farms  adorn  the  rich 
and  alluvial  prairies  that  before  were  only  desecrated  by  the  wild  bands  who 
inhabited  them.  Agricultural  pursuits,  commerce  and  manufactures,  churches 
and  schools,  are  lending  their  influence  to  advance  an  intelligent  and  prosperous 
people. 

THE    MEXICAN    WAR. 

In  the  Mexican  war  Macoupin  county  was  represented  by  a  number  of  pa- 
triotic men  and  the  part  taken  by  them  in  that  controversy  at  arms  is  here  pre- 
sented as  related  in  a  former  history  of  the  county : 

"In  the  war  with  Mexico  in  1846-7,  Illinois  furnished  six  regiments  of  men, 
as  follows :  First  regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel  John  J.  Hardin ;  Second 
regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel  William  H.  Bissell ;  Third  regiment,  commanded 
by  Colonel  Ferris  Forman ;  Fourth  regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel  Edward  D. 
Baker:  Fifth  regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel  James  Collins;  Sixth  regiment 


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HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  65 

commanded  by  Colonel  Edward  W.  Newby.     This  county  furnished  about  one 
hundred  men. 

"The  First  regiment,  mustered  at  Alton,  Illinois,  one  thousand  strong,  was 
transported  to  New  Orleans  by  steamboat  in  July,  1846,  crossed  the  gulf  and 
disembarked  from  the  vessel  at  Port  Levaca,  in  Texas,  thence  by  forced  march 
to  Camp  Crockett,  at  San  Antonia  De  Baxar,  where  they  became  a  part  of  the 
main  army,  thence  to  Persido,  thence  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles  to  Mount 
Clover,  thence  to  Paris  and  from  that  point  made  a  forced  march  to  Aqua 
Aneva.  This  regiment  fought  bravely  at  the  glorious  battles  of  Buena  Vista, 
fhe  city  of  Mexico  and  Cerro  Gordo.  In  this  regiment  enlisted,  in  Company  C, 
James  P.  Pearson  (better  known  as  Captain  Pearson),  who  was  wagon  master 
and  musician.  He  was  severely  wounded  in  the  ankle  at  Buena  Vista;  John 
and  Henry  Sharp,  James  Coen,  Thomas  Joiner,  Isaac  Hill,  Enoch  Witt,  Richard 
Mathew,  Jefferson  Edwards  and  Thomas  Pettyjohn.  In  Company  E,  commanded 
by  Captain  Newcomb,  were  John  Vincent,  who  died  in  the  service;  William 
Davis,  Snowden  Sawyer,  S.  B.  Sawyer,  John  H.  and  William  C.  Purdy,  Reuben 
Skidmore,  John  Price,  James  Linton,  Andrew  Scroggins,  Samuel  Crowell  and 
James  F.  Chapman. 

"Ig  the  Fifth  regiment,  Colonel  Collins,  Company  C,  there  were  fourteen  as 
follows :  B.  J.  Dorman,  William  Brown,  John  Coudel,  John  Pomeroy,  who  died 
in  Mexico ;  James  Raffurty,  James  Colyer,  Jackson  Edwards,  Theodorus  Moore, 
who  died  in  Mexico;  Albert  Clark,  who  also  died  in  Mexico;  William  Larri- 
more,  James  Morgan  and  John  Burgess,  all  of  whom  died  in  Mexico.  James 
Green  and  Andrew  Shaw  were  also  members  of  Company  C.  Captain  Lee,  of 
Fayette  county,  commanded  the  company.  Several  men  from  the  neighborhood 
of  Staunton,  were  also  members  of  this  regiment.  They  were :  D.  W.  Hender- 
son, Benjamin  Henderson,  S.  W.  Bell,  Daniel  Grant,  who  died  in  service;  Drury 
M.  Grant,  B.  F.  Cowell,  Thomas  Howell,  who  died  in  Mexico;  James  Vincent, 
who  died  in  Mexico;  Jackson  Scroggins,  who  also  died  in  Mexico;  Harrison 
Harrington,  Ambrose  Dickerson  and  David  R.  Sparks. 

"They  were  mustered  at  Alton  in  1846  and  were  sworn  in  for  duty  during  the 
war.  Thence  they  were  transported  to  New  Orleans,  and  from  that  place  were 
ordered  to  Tampico,  from  which  place  they  were  transported  by  vessel  to  Vera 
Cruz.  They  were  in  Patterson's  Division  and  under  General  Scott.  This  regi- 
ment participated  in  several  skirmishes  but  was  in  no  general  engagement.  They 
marched  to  the  city  of  Mexico  but  after  its  capture  they  were  mustered  out  at 
Alton,  Illinois,  in  August,  1847. 

"In  the  Fourth  regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel  Baker,  there  were  quite  a 
number  of  boys  from  Macoupin  county.  They  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Cap- 
tain Elkin,  commander,  at  Carlinville,  in  the  early  part  of  June,  1846,  and  the 
next  month,  at  Alton,  were  sworn  into  the  service.  They  were :  Fuller  Smock, 
Sebum  Gilmore,  Rush  Guy,  Lee  Graham,  Joseph  Graham,  Elijah  Pulliam,  Will- 
iam Dews,  Richard  Mathews,  John  Tennis,  Marion  Wallace,  who  died  at  Tampico, 
Mexico;  Jackson  Wallace,  who  enlisted  as  a  private,  was  promoted  to  first  lieu- 
tenant and  died  at  Camargo;  Sylvanus  Seaman,  Wilson  Mitchell,  Felix  Hampton, 
M.  Warmack,  discharged  at  Jefferson  Barracks  soon  after  being  sworn  in,  on 
account  of  sickness;  Alfred  and  Samuel  Hall,  both  discharged  at  Matamoras  on 


Vol.  1—5 


66  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

account  of  sickness;  Felix  Hall,  discharged  at  Jefferson  Barracks;  and  John 
Stockton,  also  discharged  on  account  of  sickness.  Also  in  this  regiment  were 
Samuel  Cowell  and  Andrew  Scroggins.  After  being  mustered  at  Alton,  the 
regiment  was  moved  to  Jefferson  Barracks,  where  they  were  drilled  -for  about 
a  month,  then  sent  to  New  Orleans,  thence  to  Brazos  Santiago,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Rio  Grande,  thence  to  Camp  Belknap,  on  the  same  river,  from  there  to 
Camargo,  where  they  laid  six  weeks ;  here  severe  drill  was  resumed ;  they  then 
took  a  steamer  to  Matamoras  and  were  placed  in  Patterson's  brigade,  General 
Taylor  commanding.  They  were  later  transferred  to  the  main  army  under  Gen- 
eral Scott.  From  Matamoras  they  went  to  Tampico,  where  they  embarked  for 
Vera  Cruz,  to  which  they  laid  siege,  which,  after  a  heavy  bombardment,  capitu- 
lated, surrendering  the  forts  and  shipping  in  the  harbor.  They  then  marched 
to  Cerro  Gordo,  where  the  Mexicans,  under  Santa  Anna,  were  defeated.  Here 
General  Shields  commanded  the  brigade.  They  followed  the  retreating  Mexi- 
cans to  Jalapa,  where  they  camped  for  three  weeks.  Their  term  of  service  had 
now  expired  and  they  were  ordered  to  Vera  Cruz,  thence  to  New  Orleans,  where 
in  August,  1847,  they  were  discharged  and  paid  their  own  way  home. 

"Other  soldiers  from  this  county  in  that  war  were  a  part  of  Captain  Little's 
cavalry.  In  Colonel  Hays'  regiment  of  Texas  cavalry  the  regiment  had  two 
companies  from  Illinois — Little's  and  Stapp's.  Their  names  were  as  follows : 
Thomas  Bacon,  sergeant,  John  Murphy,  John  Guison,  Edward  Miller,  Wyatt  R. 
Hill,  William  Jones,  Josiah  Jones,  Hiram  Wood,  James  Holley,  Peter  Kuyken- 
tiall,  John  Wood,  William  Edwards,  Hugh  Rice,  William  F.  McWain,  Charles 
Cowden,  Thomas  Stone  and  William  Hamilton.  John  Murphy  and  Thomas  Stone 
were  killed  in  action  near  Robert's  Bridge,  Mexico,  and  William  Jones  died  at 
Rio  Frio,  Mexico. 

"Others  undoubtedly  were  in  the  war  but  their  names  cannot  now  be  pro- 
cured. It  is  pleasing  to  know  that  the  general  assembly  of  Illinois  made  an 
appropriation,  in  1878,  for  the  purpose  of  transcribing  the  names  of  Illinois 
soldiers  who  were  in  the  Mexican  war  from  the  official  register  at  the  war  de- 
partment, the  same  to  be  placed  in  the  adjutant  general's  office  at  Springfield. 
Governor  Cullom  appointed  Colonel  Ferris  Forman,  of  Vandalia,  to  perform  that 
duty." 


CHAPTER    II. 
GEOLOGY. 

PREPARATION    OF    THE    EARTH    FOR    MAN'S    CONVENIENCE THE    ROCKS    AND    HILLS 

AS     NATURE     LEFT    THEM COAL     AND    OTHER     MINERAL    FORMATIONS     IN     THE 

COUNTY FAUNA    AND   FLORA    OF  THE   COUNTY. 

Drift  Deposits — The  quatenary  beds  of  the  county  consist  mainly  of  drift 
clays,  with  some  interstratified  beds  of  sand  and  gravel,  and  some  local  deposits 
of  loess  along  the  bluffs  of  the  Macoupin.  They  range  in  thickness  from  forty 
to  two  hundred  feet  or  more,  their  greatest  development  being  restricted  to  the 
ancient  valleys,  excavated  anterior  to,  or  during  the  drift  epoch,  and  subsequently 
filled  with  drift  accumulations. 

Three  miles  south  of  Carlinville  a  shaft  was  sunk  by  T.  L.  Loomis,  to  the 
depth  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  feet,  without  reaching  bed  rock,  all  but  a  few 
feet  at  the  top  being  through  a  blue  hard  pan.  At  this  point  a  stream  of 
water  broke  through,  probably  from  an  underlying  bed  of  quicksand  and  filled 
the  shaft  in  a  few  hours  to  the  depth  of  about  eighty  feet,  and  the  work  was 
consequently  abandoned. 

At  a  coal  shaft  one  mile  east  of  Bunker  Hill  the  superficial  deposits  were 
only  twenty-eight  feet  thick,  while  at  a  shaft  east  of  Staunton,  they  were  one 
hundred  and  ten  feet ;  at  the  Virden  shaft,  twenty,  and  at  Girard,  about  seventy 
feet.  These  figures  illustrate  the  variable  thickness  of  the  drift  deposits  in  the 
county,  and  indicate  the  irregularity  of  the  original  surface  of  the  bed  rock, 
which  seems  to  have  been  intersected  by  valleys  of  erosion  quite  as  deep,  if  not 
as  numerous  as  those  which  characterize  the  surface  at  the  present  time. 

Stratified  Rock — All  the  stratified  rocks  of  this  county  belong  to  the  coal 
measures  and  include  all  the  strata  from  the  horizon  of  coal  No.  4,  which  out- 
crops on  Hodges'  creek,  just  on  the  Greene  county  line,  to  coal  No.  10,  inclusive, 
embracing  an  aggregate  thickness  of  about  three  hundred  and  fifty  feet.  The 
following  section  of  the  coal  shaft  at  Virden  will  give  a  general  idea  of  the 
relative  thickness  and  position  of  the  strata,  and  includes  nearly  all  the  different 
beds  that  outcrop  in  the  county. 

VIRDEN    SHAFT. 

Feet  Inches 

Drift   clay    20  o 

No.  I  Sandstone 5  O 

No.  2  Bituminous  shale o  5 

67 


68  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Feet.  Inches. 

No.  3  Coal  o  2 

No.  4  Fireclay  5  o 

No.  5  Bituminous  shale 4  6 

No.  6  Coal  No.  10 , o  6 

No.  7  Fireclay  or  clay  shale 6  o 

No.  8  Hard  gray  limestone 7  9 

No.  9  Bituminous  shale i  4 

No.  10  Argillaceous  shale 5  6 

No.  ii  Compact  limestone  (Carlinville  bed) 7  o 

No.  12  Bituminous  shale,  Coal  No.  9 i  3 

No.  13  Clay  shale 6  o 

No.  14  Limestone  o  9 

No.  15  Sandy  shale  and  sandstone 63  o 

No.  16  Soft  limestone  or  calcareous  shale i  4 

No.  17  Bituminous  shale 3  10 

No.  18  Coal  No.  8 o  10 

No.  19  Sandstone  and  sand  shale   72  o 

No.  20  Shales  with  ironstone 3  o 

No.  21  Hard  calcareous  sandstone  8  o 

No.  22  Blue  clay  shale 4  o 

No.  23  Variegated  shales  (Horizon  of  Coal  No.  7) 22  6 

No.  24  Sandy  shales 26  o 

No.  25  Soft  bituminous  shale i  6 

No.  26  Limestone    3  o 

No.   27    Bituminous    shale    2  6 

No.  28  Coal  No.  6   2  9 

No.  29  Fireclay    2  o 

i  No.   30  Sandstone 4  o 

No.  31  Coal  No.  6   i  6 

No.  32  Fireclay    2  o 

No.  33  Sandstone  and  shale 10  o 

No.  34  Limestone 7  o 

No.  35  Bituminous  shale o  6 

No.  36  Coal  No.  5  7  8 

Total  depth  to  the  bottom  of  the  coal   320  i 

ECONOMICAL    GEOLOGY. 

Coal — As  may  be  presumed  from  the  perusal  of  the  preceding  statements  coal 
is  by  far  the  most  valuable  mineral  product  of  this  county.  Its  entire  area  is 
underlaid  by  coal,  and  the  supply  from  coal  seam  Xo.  5  alone  is  practically  inex- 
haustible ;  and  its  resources  from  this  seam,  reckoning  its  average  thickness  at  six 
feet,  which  is  believed  to  be  a  fair  estimate,  is  not  less  than  5,184,000,000  tons,  and 
will  admit  of  an  annual  consumption  of  one  million  tons  per  annum  for  5,184  years, 
before  the  coal  from  this  seam  alone  would  be  exhausted.  The  underlying  beds 

which  have  never  yet  been  penetrated  in  this  county  may   be  safely  set  down 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  69 

as  capable  of  affording  an  amount  equally  as  great  as  that  of  No.  5,  and  hence 
the  entire  coal  resources  of  this  county  may  be  estimated  in  round  numbers  at 
more  than  ten  billions  of  tons. 

Coal  No.  5  may  be  found  anywhere  in  the  county  that  it  may  be  desirable  to 
inaugurate  a  coal  mining  enterprise,  as  it  outcrops  at  the  surface  on  the  principal 
streams  that  intersect  the  western  border  of  the  county,  and  in  the  central  and 
eastern  portions  it  may  be  reached  in  shafts  varying  from  three  to  four  hundred 
feet  in  depth. 

Coal  No.  4  usually  lies  from  thirty  to  forty  feet  below  No.  5,  and  the  three 
lower  seams,  Nos.  i,  2  and  3,  will  all  be  found,  if  developed  at  all,  within  one 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  below  No.  4,  so  that  a  boring  or  shaft  carried  two  hun- 
dred feet  below  the  main  coal  in  this  county,  would  penetrate  all  the  coals  to  be 
found  here,  and  determine  positively  the  amount  of  coal  accessible  at  any  given 
point  where  the  experiment  may  be  made. 

Coal  No.  5  affords'a  coal  of  good  average  quality,  tolerably  hard,  bright,  com- 
pact and  usually  free  from  pyrite ;  it  has  a  rather  uneven  fracture,  but  inclines  to, 
break  into  cubic  forms,  the  layers  rather  thick  and  separated  by  partings  of  car- 
bonaceous clod  or  mineral  charcoal,  and  contains  vertical  seams  of  white  car- 
bonate of  lime.  An  analysis  of  this  coal  from  the  Hodges'  creek  mines,  made  by 
the  late  Henry  Pratten,  former  chemist  of  the  geological  survey,  and  published 
in  Dr.  Norwood's  "Abstract  of  a  Report  on  Illinois  Coals,"  gave  the  following 
result : 

Specific   Gravity    i  .2797 

Loss  in  coking 43-48 

Total  weight  of  coke 56-52 


100.00 

ANALYSIS. 

Moisture 6.50 

Volatile  matter   36.98 

Carbon  in  coke  48.72 

Ashes   (white)    7.80 


100.00 
Carbon  in  coal    53-8 

In  quality  this  coal  will  compare  favorably  with  the  average  of  our  western 
bituminous  coals.  It  is  a  good  steam  producing  coal,  hard  enough  to  bear  trans- 
portation, and  when  carefully  selected  this  seam  will  afford  a  good  smith's  coal. 

Building  Stone — The  coal  measure  strata  seldom  afford  a  good  building  stone, 
except  for  foundation  walls,  culverts  and  the  more  ordinary  uses  to  which  a 
coarse  and  homely  material  may  be  used.  The  Carlinville  limestone  is  the  most 
valuable  rock  of  its  kind  to  be  found  in  this  county,  and  it  has  been  freely  used 
for  the  ordinary  uses  above  named.  In  the  vicinity  of  Carlinville,.  the  beds  range 
from  five  to  six  feet  in  thickness,  antl  occur  in  quite  regular  layers  from  four 
inches  to  a  foot  or  more  in  thickness.  When  burned,  it  slacks  freely,  and  makes 
a  tolerably  good  but  dark  colored  quick  lime.  It  appears  to  stand  exposure  well 
and  has  proved  to  be  a  durable  stone  where  used  for  foundation  walls,  bridge 


70  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

abutments,  etc.,  and  is  the  most  valuable  limestone  in  the  county  for  economical 
purposes. 

The  coarse  brownish  gray  limestone  above  the  Carlinville  bed,  which  is  found 
in  the  bluffs  of  the  Macoupin,  east  of  Carlinville,  is  also  a  durable  stone  and  has 
been  used  for  abutments  and  foundation  walls  in  the  vicinity  of  its  outcrop,  but 
as  the  bed  is  only  from  two  to  three  feet  in  thickness  the  supply  from  this  source 
is  necessarily  limited. 

Among  the  sandstones  of  this  county  there  are  at  least  three  distinct  beds 
that  will  furnish  building  stone  of  fair  quality  if  carefully  selected.  Two  of  these 
beds  outcrop  on  Apple  creek  and  its  tributaries,  in  the  northwestern  corner  of  the 
county.  These  beds  are  twenty-four  and  thirty  feet  thick  respectively,  and  are 
in  part  composed  of  a  massive  brown  sandstone  that  stands  exposure  well,  has 
an  even  texture,  and  can  be  easily  quarried  in  blocks  suitable  for  ordinary  build- 
ing purposes.  There  is  also  a  softer  micaceous  sandstone  outcropping  on  the 
Macoupin,  below  the  bridge,  on  the  Chicago,  Alton  &  St.  Louis  railroad,  which 
affords  a  tolerably  good  building  stone  if  carefully  selected.  These  sandstones 
may  probably  be  found  outcropping  at  other  points  in  the  western  portion  of  the 
county,  and  as  a  rule,  wherever  a  sandstone  is  found  to  present  a  solid  cliff  or 
rock  at  its  outcrop,  it  may  be  safely  used  for  all  ordinary  building  purposes. 

Iron  Ore — A  band  o-f  very  pure  carbonate  of  iron  was  observed  at  two  or 
three  points  on  the  Macoupin  east  of  Carlinville,  intercalated  in  the  shales  over- 
lying the  Carlinville  limestone,  but  nowhere  in  sufficient  abundance  to  be  of  any 
economic  importance  at  the  present  time. 

Sand  and  Clay  for  Brick  Making — These  materials  are  abundant  in  all  parts 
of  the  county  and  may  usually  be  obtained  from  the  beds  immediately  beneath  the 
soil  on  the  uplands,  and  where  there  seems  to  be  a  deficiency  of  sand  in  the  sub- 
soil clays  it  may  be  easily  supplied  from  the  beds  of  the  streams,  or  from  the 
sandbeds  interstratified  with  the  drift  clays. 

REPORT   OF    J.    C.    SHANAHAN,    COUNTY    INSPECTOR   OF    MINES    FOR    igiO. 

"To  the  Honorable  President  and  Members  of  the  County  Board  of  Super- 
visors, Macoupin  County : 

"Gentlemen : — I  have  the  honor  herewith  to  present  to  you  my  annual  report 
as  county  inspector  of  mines,  for  the  year  ending  July  i,  1910. 

"The  report  will  show  the  number  of  tons  of  coal  mined,  the  tons  shipped  on 
railroads,  the  tons  supplied  to  railroad  locomotives,  tons  sold  to  the  local  trade 
and  tons  used  for  steam  at  the  mines ;  the  aggregate  value  of  coal  at  the  mines, 
the  number  of  tons  mined  by  hand  and  the  number  of  tons  mined  by  machines ; 
the  number  and  kind  of  machines  used  for  mining  coal  and  how  operated  by 
electricity  or  compressed  air ;  the  number  of  miners,  others  employed  under- 
ground, boys  employed  underground  and  all  others  employed  above  ground, 
with  the  total  number  of  employes ;  the  number  of  kegs  of  powder  used  and 
motors  used  underground  for  hauling  the  coal,  the  number  of  accidents  both 
fatal  and  non-fatal. 

"The  following  summary  is  given  which  will  show  the  contents  of  the  tables  • 

"Number  of  shipping  mines  17,  as  follows:  Superior  Coal  Company,  No.  3, 
Gillespie ;  Superior  Coal  Company  No.  2,  Gillespie ;  Superior  Coal  Company  No. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  71 

i,  Gillespie;  Consolidated  Coal  Company  No.  15,  Staunton;  Consolidated  Coal 
Company  No.  14,  Staunton ;  Royal  Colliery  Company,  Virden ;  Girard  Collieries 
Company,  Girard;  Madison  Coal  Corporation  No.  5,  Mt.  Olive;  Vivan  Colliery 
Company,  Green  ridge ;  Consolidated  Coal  Company  No.  8,  Mt.  Olive ;  Carlinville 
Coal  Company,  Carlinville ;  Lukins  &  Andrews,  Virden ;  Glenridge  Coal  Com- 
pany, Virden;  Consolidated  Coal  Company,  Gillespie;  Consolidated  Coal  Com- 
pany No.  6,  Staunton ;  Consolidated  Coal  Company  No.  7,  Staunton ;  Nilwood 
Coal  Company,  Nilwood. 

"Number  of  local  mines,  as  follows:  William  Neil  &  Company,  Bunker  Hill; 
Bauser  &  Truesdale,  Bunker  Hill;  John  J.  Harbaugh,  Chesterfield;  G.  B.  Loper, 
Chesterfield ;  Fritz  T.  Jardin,  Bunker  Hill. 

"Total  number  of  mines,  22;  tons  shipped  on  railroads,  3,753,550;  tons  sup- 
plied to  locomotives,  34,242;  tons  sold  to  local  trade,  112,564;  tons  used  at  mine 
for  steam  purposes,  140,080;  total  number  of  tons,  4,040,436;  tons  mined  by 
hand,  794,292;  tons  mined  by  machines,  3,246,144;  average  working  days  for 
shipping  mines,  152;  mining  price  for  hand  mining  to  June  i,  1910,  55  cents; 
mining  price  for  hand  mining  after  June  i,  1910,  58  cents;  price  for  machine 
mining  to  June  i,  1910,  48  cents;  mining  price  for  machine  mining  after  June  I, 
1910,  51  cents;  number  of  mining  machines,  278;  number  of  miners,  3,117; 
others  employed  underground,  1,043;  boys  employed  underground,  150;  employes 
above  ground,  371 ;  total  number  of  employes,  4,681 ;  number  of  kegs  of  powder 
for  blasting  coal,  66,552 ;  number  of  kegs  used  for  other  purposes,  71 ;  number 
of  compressed  air  locomotives,  4;  number  of  electric  locomotives,  17;  number  of 
cable  rope  used,  i ;  aggregate  value  of  coal  sold  at  mine,  $3,508,565 ;  number 
of  fatal  accidents,  4;  number  of  non-fatal  accidents  of  those  who  have  lost 
thirty  days,  23;  number  of  tons  produced  to  each  fatal  accident,  1,010,109;  num- 
ber of  tons  produced  to  each  non-fatal  accident,  183,656. 

"The  output  of  the  county  shows  a  falling  off  of  322,494  tons  from  last 
year.  This  is  owing  to  the  suspension  of  work  at  all  the  shipping  mines  in  the 
county  from  April  i,  1910,  to  June  i,  1910.  A  number  of  the  mines  in  the 
county  have  signed  a  scale  with  United  Mine  Workers  and  went  to  work  June 
i,  1910,  namely:  Girard  Collieries  Company,  Glenridge  Coal  Company,  Carlin- 
ville Coal  Company,  Nilwood  Coal  Company  and  Superior  Coal  Company. 

"Improvements — There  have  not  been  many  improvements  in  the  mines  of 
the  county  during  the  last  year,  except  putting  in  fire  protection  at  the  bottom 
of  the  shafts  and  stables  in  accordance  with  the  amendments  to  the  mining  law 
passed  by  the  late  special  session  of  the  legislature.  The  shipping  mines  are  all 
finished.  Some  of  the  local  mines  have  not  been  able  to  secure  all  material  to 
finish  their  mines  but  they  will  be  finished  in  the  near  future. 

"Abandoned  Mines — The  Consolidated  Coal  Company  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
has  abandoned  its  mine  No.  10  at  Mt.  Olive. 

"Change  of  Name — The  No.  i  mine  of  the  Illinois  Collieries  Company,  being 
the  north  shaft  at  Virden,  will  be  known  from  this  time  on  as  the  Glenridge 
Coal  Company." 

FAUNA    OF  THE    COUNTY. 

In  presenting  a  list  of  the  animals  of  the  county  that  existed  here  prior  to  and 
after  the  advent  of  the  white  man,  while  the  list  may  not  be  complete,  it  will, 


72  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

however,  be  of  interest  to  the  student  and  scientist.  Of  the  ruminating  animals 
that  were  indigenous  to  this  territory  we  had  the  American  elk,  and  still  have 
the  deer  of  two  kinds,  the  more  common,  the  well  known  American  deer  and  the 
white-tailed  deer.  The  latter  still  affords  amusement  and  sport  for  the  hunter 
in  the  more  timbered  portions  of  the  county,  and  at  a  period  not  very  remote, 
the  American  buffalo  must  have  found  pastures  near  the  alluvial  and  shaded 
banks  of  the  Macoupin  and  plains  and  prairies  of  this  portion  of  the  state.  The 
heads,  horns  and  bones  of  the  slain  animals  were  still  numerous  in  1830. 
The  black  bear  was  quite  numerous  even  in  the  memory  of  the  old  settlers.  The 
gray  wolf  and  prairie  wolf  are  not  unfrequently  found,  as  is  also  the  gray  fox, 
which  still  exists  by  its  superior  cunning.  The  panther  was  occasionally  met 
with  in  the  earlier  times,  and  still  later  and  more  common,  the  wild  cat.  There 
were  also  found  the  weasel,  one  or  more  species ;  the  mink  and  American  otter, 
which  were  quite  numerous  on  Otter  creek,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county; 
the  skunk,  the  badger,  the  raccoon  and  the  opossum.  The  two  latter  species  of 
animals  are  met  with  in  every  portion  of  the  United  States  and  the  greater 
part  of  North  America.  The  coon  skin  among  the  earlier  settlers  was  regarded 
as  a  legal  tender.  The  bear  and  otter  are  probably  now  extinct  in  the  county 
and  were  valuable  for  their  furs.  Of  the  squirrel  family  we  have  the  fox, 
gray,  flying,  ground  and  prairie  squirrel.  The  woodchuck  and  the  beaver  were 
common  prior  to  the  settlement,  as  was  also  the  common  musk  rat.  The  bats, 
shrews  and  moles  are  common.  Of  the  Muridae  we  have  the  introduced  species 
of  rats  and  mice,  as  well  as  the  meadow  mouse  and  the  long-tailed  jumping 
mouse,  frequently  met  with  in  the  clearings.  Of  the  hares,  the  so-called  rabbit 
is  very  plentiful.  •  Several  species  of  the  native  animals  have  perished,  being 
unable  to  endure  the  presence  of  civilization,  or  finding  the  food  congenial  to 
their  tastes  appropriated  by  stronger  races.  Many  of  the  pleasures,  dangers  and 
excitements  of  the  chase  are  only  known  and  enjoyed  by  most  of  us  at  the 
present  day  through  the  talk  and  traditions  of  the  past.  The  buffalo  and  the 
elk  have  passed  the  borders  of  the  Mississippi  to  the  westward,  never  more  to 
return. 

Of  the  fish,  the  most  common  are  the  cat,  bass  and  the  sun-fish.  The  perch, 
pike  and  buffalo  are  also  occasionally  seen.  The  common  carp  chub  is  numerous. 
The  bass  is  a  game  fish  and  affords  fine  sport. 

The  game  birds  most  sought  are  the  wild  turkey  and  prairie  hen,  which 
afford  excellent  sport  for  the  hunter  and  are  quite  plentiful.  The  gray  eagle  is 
also  occasionally  seen.  We  also  have  pinnated  grouse,  ruffled  grouse,  ortyx  vir- 
ginianus  quail,  woodcock,  English  snipe,  red-breasted  snipe,  telltale  snipe,  yellow 
legs,  marbled  godwit,  long-billed  curlew,  short-billed  curlew,  Virginia  rail,  Amer- 
ican swan,  trumpeter  swan,  snow  goose,  Canada  goose  brant,  mallard,  black  duck, 
pintail  duck,  green-winged  teel,  blue-winged  teel,  shoveler,  American  widgeon, 
summer,  or  wood  duck,  red-head  duck,  canvas-back  duck,  butter  ball,  rough- 
billed  pelican,  loon  killdee,  plover,  bald  head,  yellow  legged  and  upland  plover, 
wild  ibis,  white  heron,  great  blue  heron,  bittern,  sand  hill  crane,  wild  pigeon,  com- 
mon dove,  American  raven,  common  crow,  blue  jay,  bobolink,  red  winged  black, 
meadow  lark,  golden  oriole,  yellow  bird,  snow  bird,  chirping  sparrow,  field  spar- 
row, swamp  sparrow,  indigo  bird,  cardinal  red  bird,  cheewink,  white  bellied  nut- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  73 

hatch,  mocking  bird,  cat  bird,  brown  thrush,  house  wren,  barn  swallow,  bank 
swallow,  blue  martin,  cedar  bird,  scarlet  tanager,  summer  red  bird,  robin,  blue 
bird,  king  bird,  pewee,  belted  kingfisher,  whippoorwill,  night  hawk,  chimney 
swallow,  ruby  throated  humming  bird,  hairy  woodpecker,  downy  woodpecker, 
red  headed  woodpecker,  golden  winged  woodpecker,  Carolina  parrot,  great  horned 
owl,  barred  owl,  snowy  owl,  turkey  buzzard,  pigeon  hawk,  swallow  tailed  hawk, 
Mississippi  kite,  red  tailed  hawk,  bald  eagle,  ring  tailed  eagle. 
We  give  the  following  classification  of  birds  in  three  divisions : 

1.  Those  of  the  greatest  value  to  the  fruit  growers  in  destroying  noxious 
insects,  and  which  should  be  encouraged  and  fostered  in  every  way :  blue  birds, 
tit  mice  or  chickadees,  warblers,  swallows  and  all  birds  known  as  woodpeckers 
except  sapsuckers.     The  latter   is  entirely  injurious,  as  it   is  not  insectivorous 
but  feeds  on  the  inner  bark  of  many  species  of  tree  and  may  be  known  from 
other  woodpeckers  by  its  belly  being  yellowish,  a  large  black  patch  on  its  breast 
and  the  top  of  its  head  a  dark  bright  red.     The  males  have  also  a  patch  of  the 
same  on  their  throats  and  with  the  minor  margins  of  the  two  central  tail  feathers 
white.     This  bird  should  not  be  mistaken  for  the  two  other  most  valuable  birds 
which  it  nearly  resembles, — the  hairy  woodpecker  and  the  downy  woodpecker. 
These  two  species  have  the  two  outer  tail  feathers  white  and  have  only  a  small 
patch  of  red  on  the  back  of  the  head  of  the  males.     The  yellow  hammer  or 
flecker  is  somewhat  colored  with  yellow  and  should  not  be  mistaken  for  the  sap- 
sucker.     It  is  a  much  larger  bird.     The  red  headed  woodpecker  sometimes  pecks 
into  apples  and  devours  cherries  and  should  be  placed  in  the  next  division  (2). 
The  wren,  ground  robin,  meadow  lark,  all  the  fly  catchers,  the  king  bird  or  bee 
catcher,  whippoorwill,  night  hawk  or  goat  sucker,  nuthatcher,  pewee  or  pewit, 
all  the  blackbirds,  bobolinks,  white  and  brown  creepers,  Maryland  warblers,  indigo 
birds,  chirping  sparrow,  black  throated  bunting  and  thrushes,  except  those  named 
m  the  next  class,  and  all  domestic  fowls  except  geese. 

2.  Birds  of  doubtful  utility  are  those  which  have  beneficial  qualities  in  the 
way  of  destroying  fruits  and  whose  habits  are  not  fully  determined.    The  robin, 
brown  thrush  and  cat  bird  are  very  valuable  as  cut  worm  eaters  but  also  very 
obnoxious  to  the  small  fruit  growers.     The  blue  jay  is  not  only  destructive  to 
grain  and  fruits  but  very  noxious '  in  the  way  of  destroying  the  nest  eggs  and 
young  of   smaller   and   better   birds,    robin,    brown    thrush,   cat  bird,   shrike   or 
butcher  bird,  red  headed  woodpecker,  jay  bird  or  blue  jay,  crow  and  the  small 
owls,  pigeons  and  mocking  bird. 

3.  Birds  that  should  be  exterminated  are  sapsucker,  or  yellow  bellied  wood- 
pecker, Baltimore  oriole,  or  hanging  bird,  cedar  bird,  or  wax  wings,  hawks  and 
the  larger  owls. 

FLORA. 

When  we  gaze  out  over  the  landscape  the  eye  is  pleased  with  its  chequered 
beauty  and  loveliness.  Here  and  there  are  bright  flowers,  clinging  vines,  green 
verdured  hill  and  dale,  majestic  forest  trees,  whose  towering  heads  have  with- 
stood the  blasts  and  storms  of  many  winters, — these  were  created  not  only  to 
please  the  eye  and  beautify  the  world,  but  the  cereals  and  grasses  were  made  to 
furnish  food  for  man  and  beast.  This  article  will  treat  particularly  of  the  more 


74  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

valuable  woods  utilized  in  the  mechanic  arts,  and  the  grasses,  plants,  vegetables 
and  flowers  most  beneficial  to  man,  and  particularly  those  which  are  natives  of 
the  county.  Many  species  of  the  native  vegetable  kingdom  have  fled.  The 
buffalo  grass,  which  only  grew  on  parts  of  the  prairies,  and  almost  wholly  the 
large  pampas  grass,  have  become  extinct  and  given  place  to  blue  grass,  which, 
in  places  where  domestic  cattle  feed,  is  rapidly  and  quietly  displacing  all  others. 
The  plants  are  many  and  rare,  some  for  beauty  and  some  for  medicine.  The 
pink  root,  the  columbo,  the  ginseng,  boneset,  pennyroyal  and  others  are  used  as 
herbs  for  medicine.  Plants  of  beauty  are  the  phlox,  lily,  asclepias,  mints,  golden 
rod,  eye  bright  gerardia  and  hundreds  more  which  adorn  the  meadows  and  brook- 
sides.  Besides  these  there  are  the  climbing  vines,  trumpet  creeper,  bitter  sweet, 
woodbine,  clematis  and  the  grape,  which  fill  the  woods  with  gay  festoons  and 
add  grace  to  many  a  decaying  monarch  of  the  forest.  The  trees  and  grasses, 
one  so  lordly  and  permanent,  the  other  so  humble  and  transient,  are  the  true 
glories  of  the  county.  The  oak,  with  at  least  its  twenty  varieties ;  the  hickory, 
with  as  many  more  species ;  the  thirty  kinds  of  elm,  from  the  soft,  which  bear 
leaves  as  large  as  a  man's  hand,  to  the  kind  which  bear  a  leaf  scarcely  larger 
than  a  man's  thumb  nail ;  the  black  walnut,  so  tall  and  straight ;  the  hackberry ; 
gum  tree,  black  and  sweet;  the  tulip  and  the  giant  cottonwoods  and  hundreds 
more,  attest  the  fertility  of  the  soil  and  mildness  of  the  climate,  while  the  blue 
grass,  in  its  ten  varieties,  the  timothy  and  red  top,  with  clover  so  abundant  in 
succulence,  affords  excellent  pasturage  and  opens  a  fine  field  for  the  dairyman 
or  stock  raiser. 

The  following  is  a  partial  list  of  the  trees  and  plants  of  the  county :  Cot- 
tonwood,  willow,  alder,  birch,  hazel  nut,  red  oak,  water  oak,  black  oak,  black 
jack,  laurel  oak,  chestnut  white  oak,  yellow  oak,  white  oak,  post  oak,  pig  nut, 
hickory,  overcup  oak,  white  heart  hickory,  shellbark  hickory,  pecan,  black  walnut, 
butternut,  sycamore,  red  elm,  red  mulberry,  stinging  nettle,  white  elm,  spear  grass, 
blue  grass,  bulrush,  Indian  turnip,  cat  tail,  arrow  head,  yellow  lady's  slipper, 
white  lady's  slipper,  hemp,  hop,  Jamestown  weed,  milk  weed,  white  ash,  black 
ash,  poke  weed,  pig  weed,  sour  dock,  sassafras,  fever  bush,  hoarhound,  night 
shade,  ground  cherry,  horsemint,  catnip,  pennyroyal,  persimmon,  plantain,  mullein, 
common  thistle,  burdock,  dandelion,  fire  we'ed,  rag  weed,  cockle  bur,  Spanish 
needle,  beggar  ticks,  May  weed,  ox  eye  daisy,  thoroughwort,  dogwood,  elder,  wild 
gooseberry,  wild  crab,  climbing  rose,  dwarf  wild  rose,  blackberry,  paw-paw.  May 
apple,  blood  root,  wild  pepper  grass,  linden,  prickly  ash,  sumach,  poison  oak, 
summer  grape,  frost  grape,  Virginia  creeper,  buckeye,  sugar  maple,  white  maple, 
box  elder,  indigo  weed,  red  bud,  coffee  tree,  honey  locust,  red  plum,  Chickasaw 
plum,  wild  cherry,  wild  strawberry,  black  cap  raspberry,  dewberry. 


CHAPTER  III. 
ORGANIZATION. 

MACOUPIN     COUNTY    ORGANIZED    IN     1829 COMMISSIONERS     NAMED    TO    SELECT    A 

COUNTY     SEAT — PROVISIONS     MADE     FOR     THE     FIRST    ELECTION FIRST     COUNTY 

OFFICIALS FIRST    GRAND     AND     PETIT     JURORS FIRST     AND    ONLY     LEGAL     EX- 
ECUTION. 

At  the  time  of  the  creation  of  Macoupin  county  that  portion  of  the  state 
within  the  confines  of  the  county  was  a  part  of  Madison;  but  when  part  of 
Madison  county  was  organized  and  designated  as  Greene  county,  the  territory 
comprising  the  future  county  of  Macoupin  was  then  part  and  parcel  of  Greene 
and  was  known  as  the  "attached  part  of  "Greene  county." 

In  1829  the  legislature,  in  session  at  the  capital,  Vandalia,  passed  an  act 
entitled  "an  act  creating  the  county  of  Macoupin"  and  appointing  five  com- 
missioners to  select  a  seat  of  justice,  whose  names  appear  in  the  bill  which  is 
appended.  The  county  was  named  Macoupin  in  the  act.  This  word  is  of  In- 
dian origin  and  is  abbreviated  from  "Macoupina,"  which  signifies  in  their  tongue 
"white  potato,"  for  that  is  the  name  they  gave  to  the  wild  artichoke  which  grew 
abundantly  along  the  water  courses.  The  name  was  given  to  the  principal  stream 
of  the  county  long  before  its  organization,  and  when  the  new  county  was  created, 
was  conferred  upon  it. 

Thomas  Carlin,  afterwards  governor  of  the  state,  was  at  that  time  a  senator 
from  this  district,  and  it  was  largely  through  his  instrumentality  that  the  passage 
of  the  bill  was  secured.  The  celebrated  and  eccentric  pioneer  preacher,  Peter 
Cartwright,  was  also  a  member  of  the  general  assembly,  and  opposed  the  bill, 
saying,  among  other  things,  that  "God  had  set  apart  this  region  as  a  reservation 
for  the  geese  and  ducks."  But  the  demands  of  the  citizens  of  the  attached  part 
of  Greene  county  were  acceded  to  and  the  legislature  passed  the  following  bill, 
entitled 

AN    ACT   CREATING   THE    COUNTY    OF    MACOUPIN. 

"Be  it  enacted  by  the  people  of  the  state  of  Illinois  represented  in  the  gen- 
eral assembly,  That  all  that  tract  of  country  within  the  boundaries,  to-wit :  Be- 
ginning at  the  southwest  corner  of  ^township  seven,  north  of  range  nine,  west 
of  the  west  principal  meridian ;  thence  east  on  the  line  dividing  townships  six 
and  seven  to  the  southwest  corner  of  Montgomery  county ;  thence  due  north 
to  the  southern  boundary  of  Sangamon  county ;  thence  west  on  the  southern 

75 


76  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

line  of  Sangamon  and  Morgan  counties,  to  the  range  line  dividing  ranges  nine 
and  ten;  thence  south  on  said  range  line  to  the  place  of  beginning,  shall  form 
and  constitute  a  county  to  be  called  Macoupin. 

"Section  2.  For  the  purpose  of  fixing  the  permanent  seat  of  justice  of  said 
county,  the  following  persons  are  appointed  commissioners,  to-wit :  Seth  Hodges, 
Joseph  Borough,  John  Harris,  Shadrach  Reddick  and  Ephraim  Powers,  who,  or 
a  majority  of  them  being  first  sworn  before  some  justice  of  the  peace  of  this 
state,  faithfully  to  take  into  consideration  the  convenience  of  the  people  with 
an  eye  to  the  future  population  and  eligibility  of  the  place,  shall  meet  at  the 
house  of  Joseph  Borough,  in  said  county  of  Macoupin,  on  the  third  day  of 
March  next,  or  within  six  days  thereafter,  and  proceed  to  examine  and  determine 
on  a  place  for  the  permanent  seat  of  justice  of  said  county ;  Provided  the  com- 
missioners aforesaid  shall  locate  the  seat  of  Justice  on  public  land,  they  shall 
designate  the  same,  and  certify  to  the  county  commissioners  of  said  county,  as 
soon  as  they  shall  be  qualified  to  office,  the  half  quarter  or  quarter  section  of ' 
land  so  selected  for  said  county  seat ;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  county 
commissioners  as  soon  thereafter  as  they  may  be  enabled,  to  enter  the  same  in 
the  land  office  of  the  district  in  which  the  same  may  be  situated,  and  they  shall 
immediately  thereafter  lay  off  the  same,  or  any  part  thereof,  into  town  lots, 
and  sell  the  same  on  such  terms  and  conditions  as  may  be  most  advantageous 
to  the  interests  of  said  county ;  and  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  shall  be  appropriated 
to  the  erection  of  a  sufficient  court  house  and  jail.  But  if  the  said  commissioners, 
appointed  to  locate  said  seat  of  justice,  should  locate  the  same  on  the  lands  of 
any  person,  or  persons,  and  such  proprietor,  or  proprietors,  should  refuse  or 
neglect  to  give  to  the  county,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  public  buildings  for 
the  use  of  said  county,  a  quantity  of  land  not  less  than  twenty  acres,  situated 
and  lying  in  a  square  form,  to  be  selected  by  said  commissioners,  then,  and  in 
that  case,  the  said  commissioners  shall  proceed  to  select  some  other  situation, 
as  convenient  as  may  be  to  the  place  first  selected ;  Provided,  the  like  quantity, 
and  for  the  purpose  above  mentioned.  And  the  said  commissioners,  after  hav- 
ing made  such  location,  shall  designate  the  same,  and  certify  as  aforesaid,  to 
the  next  county  commissioners  court,  to  be  held  in  and  for  said  county ;  and  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  said  county  commissioners  to  demand  and  receive  a  title  in 
fee  simple,  for  the  use  of  said  county,  for  the  donation  of  land  as  above  stated, 
and  to  lay  out  the  same  into  town  lots,  and  sell  the  same,  and  appropriate  the  pro- 
ceeds thereof  as  before  mentioned ;  which  place,  when  so  fixed  upon,  shall  be  the 
permanent  seat  of  justice  of  said  county;  all  of  which  proceedings  shall  be  en- 
tered of  record  on  the  books  of  the  county  court. 

"Section  3.  Until  public  buildings  shall  be  erected  for  the  purpose,  the  courts 
shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Borough,  in  said  county,  or  at  such  other 
places  as  the  county  commissioners  may  appoint. 

"Section  4.  An  election  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Borough,  in 
said  county,  on  the  second  Monday  of  April  next,  for  one  sheriff,  one  coroner, 
and  three  county  commissioners,  for  said  county,  who  shall  hold  their  offices  until 
the  next  general  election,  and  until  their  successors  are  qualified ;  which  said 
election  shall  be  conducted  in  all  respects,  agreeably  to  the  provisions  of  the 
law  regulating  elections ;  Provided  that  the  qualified  voters  present  may  select 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  77 

among  themselves  three  qualified  voters  to  act  as  judges  of  said  election,  who 
shall  appoint  two  qualified  voters  to  act  as  clerks. 

"Section  5.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  clerk  of  the  circuit  court  of  said  county, 
to  give  notice,  in  writing,  at  least  ten  days  previous  to  said  election,  to  be  held 
on  the  second  Monday  of  April  next,  and  in  case  there  shall  be  no  clerk  in 
said  county,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  any  Justice  of  the  Peace,  residing  in  said 
county,  and  commissioned  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  for  the  county  of  Greene,  to 
give  notice  of  the  time  and  place  of  holding  said  election. 

"Section  6.  The  citizens  of  said'  county  of  Macoupin  are  entitled,  in  all 
respects,  to  the  same  rights  and  privileges  as  are  allowed  to  other  citizens  of 
other  counties  of  this  state. 

"Section  7.  The  commissioners  appointed  to  locate  the  seat  of  justice  of 
said  county,  shall  receive  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per  day,  for  each  day  neces- 
sarily spent  in  discharging  the  duties  imposed  on  them  by  this  act,  to  be  paid  out 
of  the  county  treasury  of  said  county,  and  the  said  commissioners  shall  give  to 
the  said  seat  of  justice  some  appropriate  name. 

"Section  8.  The  inhabitants  of  said  county  shall  vote  in  all  elections  for 
members  of  the  General  Assembly,  in  the  same  manner  as  they  were  authorized 
to  do,  before  the  passage  of  this  act.  NINIAN  EDWARDS,  Governor. 

''Approved,  January  17,  1829.'' 

RECORD  OF  THE   MEETING  OF  THE   FIRST  BOARD  OF  COMMISSIONERS. 

At  a  special  term  of  court  held  on  the  i2th  of  April,  1829,  it  was  "Ordered 
that  until  public  buildings  shall  be  erected  for  the  purpose,  the  courts  in  future 
shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  John  L.  Davis,  in  Macoupin  county. 

"April  18,  1829.  Ordered,  that  Macoupin  county  be  divided  into  three  elec- 
tion precincts,  for  the  election  of  justices  of  the  peace  and  constables  for  county. 

"April  18,  1829.  Ordered,  that  all  that  tract  of  country  lying  within  the 
following  boundaries,  to-wit :  beginning  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Macoupin 
county,  and  running  thence  east  with  the  line  of  said  county,  to  the  Bond  county 
line,  thence  north  with  said  line  twelve  miles,  thence  due  west  to  the  line  of 
Greene  county,  thence  due  south  with  said  line  to  the  place  of  beginning,  shall 
constitute  an  election  district  for  justices  of  the  peace,  and  constables,  and  be 
called  Cahokia  district. 

"April  18.  1829.  Ordered,  that  all  that  tract  of  country  lying  within  the 
following  boundaries,  to-wit :  beginning  at  the  southwest  corner  of  township 
nine  north,  in  range  nine  west,  thence  due  east  to  the  Bond  county  line,  thence 
due  north  with  said  line  twelve  miles  to  the  southeast  corner  of  township  eleven 
north,  range  six  west,  thence  due  west  to  Greene  county  line, 'thence  south  with 
said  line  to  the  place  of  beginning,  shall  constitute  an  election  district  for  justices 
of  the  peace  and  constables,  and  be  called  Macoupin  district. 

"April  1 8.  1829.  Ordered,  that  all  that  tract  of  country  lying  within  the 
following  boundaries,  to-wit :  beginning  at  the  southwest  corner  of  township 
eleven  north,  range  nine  west,  thence  east  to  the  line  of  Sangamon  county,  thence 
due  west  with  the  said  lines  of  Sangamon  and  Morgan  counties  to  Greene  county 
line,  thence  due  south  with  said  line  of  Greene  county  to  the  place  of  beginning, 


78  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

shall  constitute  an  election  district  for  justices  of  the  peace  and  constables,  and 
be  called  Apple  Creek  district. 

"April  18,  1829.  Ordered,  that  elections  shall  be  held  in  each  of  the  districts 
in  this  county  for  the  election  of  two  justices  of  the  peace  and  two  constables 
for  each  district,  except  the  district  in  which  the  county  seat  is,  in  which  district 
there  shall  be  three  justices  of  the  peace  and  three  constables  elected,  on  Satur- 
day, the  sixteenth  day  of  May  next. 

"It  is  ordered  that  Ephraim  Powers,  John  Chapman  and  Lewis  Cormack  be 
appointed  judges  of  election,  for  justices  of  the  peace  and  constables  in  Cahokia 
district. 

"Also,  that  Theodorus  Davis,  Samuel  M.  Harris  and  Samuel  Lear  be  ap- 
pointed judges  of  election,  for  justices  of  the  peace  and  constables  in  Macoupin 
district. 

"Also,  that  Hugh  Gibson,  John  Nevins  and  James  Mabrey  be  appointed 
judges  of  election  for  justices  of  the  peace  and  constables  in  Apple  Creek  district. 

"Also,  that  the  elections  for  justices  and  constables  in  Cahokia  district  shall 
be  held  at  the  house  of  Ephraim  Powers  in  said  district. 

"Ordered,  that  the  elections  for  justices  of  the  peace  and  constables  in 
Macoupin  district  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Borough. 

"Also,  that  the  elections  for  justices  of  the  peace  and  constables  in  Apple 
Creek  district  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  Felix  Hoover. 

"It  is  ordered  by  the  court  that  William  G.  Coop  be  appointed  county  treas- 
urer and  assessor  of  this  county." 

SECOND    SESSION. 

"At  a  County  Commissioners'  Court,  begun  and  held  at  the  house  of  John 
L.  Davis,  in  and  for  said  county  of  Macoupin,  on  Thursday,  the  seventh  day 
of  May,  1829. 

"President  Theodorus  Davis,  William  Wilcox,  Commissioners. 

"On  motion  of  several  citizens  of  Apple  Creek  district,  the  line  dividing  said 
Apple  Creek  district  and  Macoupin  district,  is  changed  thus  fourteen  miles  di- 
rectly east  from  the  western  line  of  said  county,  the  line  shall  commence  and 
run  diagonally  across  the  townships,  so  as  to  strike  the  eastern  line  of  said 
county,  two  miles  south  of  the  northwest  corner  of  the  county  aforesaid. 

"May  27,  1829.  Some  doubts  having  arisen  with  regard  to  the  authority  of 
the  clerk  of  this  court,  he  took  the  different  oaths  of  office." 

THE  SELECTING  OF  THE  SITE  FOR  THE   COUNTY  SEAT. 

0 

At  a  meeting  of  the  commissioners  court,  held  on  the  2d  of  June,  1829. 

"The  Court  received  the  report  of  the  commissioners,  appointed  by  law  for 
fixing  the  seat  of  justice  for  this  county,  which  said  report  read  as  follows,  to-wit : 

"The  commissioners  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of 
Illinois,  in  the  year  1829,  to  locate  the  seat  of  justice  for  the  County  of  Macoupin, 
having  met  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Borough  in  said  county,  and  having  fixed 
upon  the  following  site  for  the  seat  of  justice  of  said  county,  etc.,  being  and 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  79 

lying  on  the  S.  W.  qr.  of  Sec.  28,  Township  10  N.,  Range  7  West.  Donation 
30  acres,  to  be  situated  in  an  oblong  square,  80  poles  in  front  on  the  north  side, 
to  run  60  poles  south.  Stake  drove  on  the  north  side  of  public  square,  equi- 
distant from  E.  and  W.  corners  on  N.  side,  facing  Main  St.,  to  run  due  East  and 
West. 

"Given  under  our  hands  and  seals,  this  first  day  of  June,  A.  D.,  1829. 

"SETH  HODGES. 
"JOSEPH  BOROUGH. 
"JOHN  HARRIS." 

The  court  received  a  title  in  fee  simple  for  the  above  described  lot,  or  do- 
nation of  ground,  which  said  bond  is  ordered  to  be  filed  in  the  clerk's  office 
of  this  court.  The  site  for  the  county  seat  was  named  Carlinville,  in  honor 
of  Thomas  Carlin;  who  afterwards  became  governor  of  Illinois,  and  who,  as  has 
been  seen,  secured  the  passage -of  the  creating  act. 

COPY  OF  PROPRIETOR'S  BOND  TO  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS. 

"Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  we,  Seth  Hodges  and  Ezekiel  Good, 
are  held  and  firmly  bound  unto  William  Wilcox,  Theodorus  Davis  and  Seth 
Hodges,  county  commissioners  for  Macoupin  county,  and  their  successors  in 
office,  in  the  penal  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars,  for  the  true  payment  whereof 
we  bind  ourselves,  our  heirs,  executors  and  administrators  jointly,  severally  and 
firmly  by  these  presents.  Sealed  with  our  seals,  and  dated  this  ist  day  of  June, 
1829. 

"The  condition  of  the  above  obligation  is  such  that  whereas  the  above  named 
Seth  Hodges  and  Ezekiel  Good  have  agreed  to  make  a  good  and  lawful  deed 
to  the  above  named  county  commissioners  and  their  successors  in  office  to 
thirty  acres  of  land  situate,  and  lying  and  being  in  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  of  No.  28,  10  N.  in  W.  R.  7,  to-wit,  situated  in  an  oblong  square,  80 
poles  in  front,  on  the  north  side  to  run  60  poles  south.  Stake  drove  on  the  north 
side  of  the  public  square  equi-distant  from  E.  and  W.  on  N.  side  facing  Main 
street,  Main  street  to  run  due  east  and  west.  Now  if  the  said  Good  and  Hodges 
shall  make  a  good  and  sufficient  deed  to  the  above  described  lot  or  parcel  of 
ground  as  soon  as  the  patent  for  said  ground  shall  come  to  their  hands,  then 
this  obligation  to  be  void,  else  to  remain  in  full  force. 

"SETH  HODGES.     (SEAL) 
"EZEKIEL  GOOD.     (SEAL)" 

LAYING  OFF  THE  TOWN  OF  CARLINVILLE,  JUNE  TERM  OF  COURT,  1829 JUNE  I 

"It  is  ordered  by  the  court  that  the  surveyor  of  this  county  proceed  to  lay 
off  the  town  of  Carlinville  into  town  lots,  under  the  direction  of  the  commis- 
sioners of  this  county,  and  that  he  return  a  plot  of  the  same  to  the  office  of  this 
court,  previous  to  the  27th  day  of  August  next,  and  it  is  further  ordered  by  the 
court  that  twenty  lots  of  the  aforesaid  town  of  Carlinville  be  offered  for  sale 
on  the  27th  day  of  August  next  on  the  premises,  on  a  credit  of  six,  twelve  and 
eighteen  months,  the  purchaser  giving  bond  with  approved  security  for  the  pur- 


80  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

chase  money,  a.nd  that  the  clerk  of  this  court  furnish  an  advertisement  convey- 
ing the  intent  and  meaning  of  this  order,  to  be  published  in  the  Illinois  Intelli- 
gencer, and  also  advertise  the  same  in  such  public  places  in  this  county  as  may 
be  deemed  expedient. 

"State  of  Illinois,  Macoupin  county,  ss. : 

"On  this  day  personally  appeared  before  me  Ezekiel  Good  and  Seth.  Hodges, 
who  are  personally  known  to  me  to  be  the  identical  persons  who  executed  thirty 
acres,  as  a  donation,  to  Seth  Hodges,  Theodorus  Davis  and  William  Wilcox, 
county  commissioners  of  said  county,  and  also  said  county  commissioners,  all  of 
whom  acknowledged  the  within  to  be  their  act  and  plat  to  all  intents  and.  pur- 
poses: Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  this  2/th  day  of  August,  A.  D.  1829. 

LEWIS  SOLOMON,  J.  P. 

"Registered  August  the  27th,  1829. 

T.  P.  HOXEY,  Recorder." 

ASSESSMENT  OF  PROPERTY. 

At  the  same  term  an  order  was  made  by  the  court  for  the  assessment  of  the 
•county,  and  the  assessor  was  furnished  a  classified  list  of  taxable  property. 

AMOUNT   PAID   COMMISSIONERS   FOR   LOCATING  SEAT  OF   JUSTICE. 

"It  was  ordered  by  the  commissioners  of  the  county  that  Joseph  Borough  be 
allowed  four  dollars  and  fifty  cents  for  three  days'  services  as  a  commissioner  in 
locating  the  county  seat;  also  that  John  Harris  and  Shadrach  Reddick  each  be 
allowed  the  sum  of  three  dollars  for  two  days'  services  as  commissioners  to 
locate  the  seat  of  justice." 

LAYING  OFF  THE  TOWN. 

To  the  surveyor,  Joseph  Borough,  for  surveying  and  platting  fifty  lots  in 
the  town  of  Carlinville,  the  sum  of  seventeen  dollars  and  fifty  cents  was  allowed 
"by  the  court,  and  the  same  ordered  to  be  paid. 

THE  FIRST  GRAND  JURORS. 

"At  a  county  commissioners'  court  begun  and  held  at  the  house  of  John  L. 
Davis,  in  and  for  the  county  of  Macoupin,  on  Monday,  the  first  day  of  June,  1829. 

"Present :     Seth  Hodges,  William  Wilcox,  Theodorus  Davis,  Commissioners." 

"It  is  ordered  by  the  court  that  the  following  named  persons  be  certified 
to  the  sheriff  to  serve  as  grand  jurors  at  the  first  circuit  court  held  in  this  county, 
to-wit : 

"Michael  Best,  Roger  Snell,  John  Chapman,  Joseph  Hilyard,  Edward  Mc- 
Kinley,  John  Powell,  Isham  Dolton,  Samuel  M.  Harris,  Daniel  Stringer,  Daniel 
Deadrick,  Andrew  B.  Lee,  Lewis  Solomon,  Green  Weaver,  James  Bristow,  John 


MOTEL   AT    BEX  LI) 


SUPERIOR   C'OAL   MINE   NO.  2.   HEXLI) 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  81 

Nevins,  John  Cummings,  Solomon  Davis,  James  Mabrey,  Ezekiel  Springer,  Hugh 
Gipson,  John  Love,  Andrew  Russell  and  Edmond  C.  Vancil." 

SECOND  VENIRE  OF  GRAND  JURORS.      APRIL  TERM,    1830. 

"At  a  term  of  the  Macoupin  Circuit  Court,  begun  and  held  in  the  town  of 
Carlinville,  at  the  court  house  thereof,  on  the  first  Friday  after  the  second  Monday 
in  the  month  of  April,  A.  D.  1830.  Present  the  Hon.  Samuel  D.  Lockwood, 
Associate  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  and  presiding  judge  of  the  first  judicial 
circuit.  John  Harris,  sheriff  of  Macoupin  county  aforesaid,  returned  into  court 
the  following  venire  of  grand  jurors,  to  wit: 

"Lewis  Solomon,  foreman ;  John  Nevins,  Michael  Best,  John  Cummings, 
Roger  Snell,  James  Mabrey,  John  Chapman,  Ezekiel  Springer,  Joseph  Hilyard, 
George  Matthews,  Edward  McKinley,  Andrew  Russell,  John  Powell,  Edmond  C. 
Vancil,  Samuel  M.  Harris,  Robert  Patton,  William  Norvel,  Bennet  Nowlin,  An- 
drew Broxvnlee." 

THE   FIRST   PETIT  JURORS. 

"Ordered,  that  the  following  persons  be  selected  to  serve  as  petit  jurors  at  the 
next  term  of  the  circuit  court  for  the  county  of  Macoupin :  Joseph  Best,  John 
Snell.  Joseph  Vincent,  William  Cormack,  Peyton  Seamonds,  Alexander  B.  Miller, 
Howard  Finclley,  James  Braden,  James  Hall,  Shadrach  Reddick,  George  Nettles, 
Richard  Smith,  John  Wright,  David  Cooper,  Reuben  Harris,  Jones  Denton,  John 
Blainey,  John  Record,  Russel  Taber,  James  Howard,  Jones  Thompson,  Isaac 
Massey,  Maxey  M.  Mabrey  and  Elijah  Bristow." 

SECOND   DEED    EXECUTED    AFTER    ORGANIZATION    OF   THE    COUNTY. 

"This  indenture  made  and  entered  into  this  6th  day  of  November,  A.  D.  1829, 
between  Theodorus  Davis,  Sen.,  of  the  county  of  Macoupin  in  the  state  of  Illinois, 
for  and  in  behalf  of  said  county  of  the  one  part,  and  Rowland  Shepherd  in  the 
county  and  state  aforesaid  of  the  other  part,  witnesseth :  That  the  said  Theodorus 
Davis,  Sen.,  commissioner  for  and  in  behalf  of  the  county  aforesaid,  for  the  sum 
of  eight  dollars  to  him  paid  in  hand,  doth  hereby  acknowledge,  have  given, 
granted,  bargained,  sold,  conveyed  and  confirmed,  and  by  these  presents  doth  give, 
grant,  bargain,  release,  convey  and  confirm  unto  the  said  Rowland  Shepherd  and 
to  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever  a  certain  lot  piece  or  parcel  of  ground  situate, 
lying  and  being  in  the  town  of  Carlinville  on  Main  street,  and  known  and  desig- 
nated on  the  plan  of  map  of  said  town  by  lot  number  seventy-one  with  the  ap- 
purtenances. To  have  and  to  hold  the  aforenamed  and  described  lot,  piece  or 
parcel  of  ground  seventy-one  in  the  town  of  Carlinville,  aforesaid,  together  with 
all  and  singular  the  appurtenances,  privileges,  advantages,  profits  and  emoluments 
belonging  to  it,  or  in  anywise  or  degree  appertaining  to  the  same,  to  the  said 
Rowland  Shepherd,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever.  And  the  said  Theodorus  Davis, 
Sen.,  commissioner  for  and  in  behalf  of  said  county,  doth  covenant,  promise  and 
agree  to  and  with  the  said  Rowland  Shepherd,  his  heirs,  etc.,  that  he,  the  said 
Theodorus  Davis.  Sen.,  commissioner  as  aforesaid  for  and  in  behalf  of  the 


82  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

county  aforesaid,  will  forever  warrant  and  defend  the  right  and  title  of  said 
above  named  and  described  lot,  piece  and  parcel  of  ground  to  the  said  Rowland 
Shepherd  and  to  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  to  his  sole  and  only  proper  use, 
benefit  and  behoof,  free  and  clear  of  and  from  the  claim  or  claims  of  all  and 
every  person  or  persons  claiming  or  to  claim  the  same  or  any  part  thereof.  In 
testimony  whereof  he,  the  said  Theodorus  Davis,  Sen.,  commissioner  aforesaid 
for  and  in  behalf  of  said  county,  hereunto  sets  his  hand  and  seal  the  date  above 
written  interlined  before  signed. 

THEODORUS  DAVIS,  Sen.   (SEAL). 
"Attest : 

JOSEPH  BOROUGH, 
EZEKIEL  GOOD." 

Below  are  given  as  of  interest  to  all  some  of  the  first  papers  on  record. 

FIRST    DIVORCE    CASE,    AUGUST    TERM,    183!. 

"Nancy  Sweet  vs.  Henry  S.  Sweet — For  Divorce. 

"This  day  came  the  complainant,  by  James  Semple,  her  attorney,  and  the  de- 
fendant not  appearing  according  to  the  order  of  this  Court,  the  complainant's  bill 
is  taken  for  confessed,  and  the  Court  having  heard  the  evidence  on  the  part  of 
the  complainant,  and  being  satisfied  that  the  allegation  of  two  years'  absence  of 
the  said  complainant's  bill  was  true,  and  the  Court  being  now  sufficiently  advised 
of  and  concerning  the  premises,  do  order,  adjudge,  and  decree  that  the  bands  of 
matrimony  heretofore  existing  between  the  said  parties  be,  and  the  same  are 
hereby  dissolved. 

"It  is  further  ordered  that  said  complainant  pay  the  costs  of  this  suit." 

FIRST  NATURALIZATION. 

"At  the  April  term  of  Court  A.  D.,  1834,  Thomas  S.  Gelder  makes  his  writ- 
ten application  to  be  naturalized,  files  his  declaration,  and  takes  the  oath  prescribed 
by  law,  in  open  Court,  which  is  ordered  to  be  filed." 

As  will  be  observed  from  the  above,  Captain  Gelder  was  the  first  person  to 
become  a  naturalized  citizen  in  the  county. 

FIRST    WILL   UPON    RECORD    (1837). 

James  Breden,  executor,  placed  it  on  file  in  1839: 

"I,  John  Murphy,  of  the  county  of  Macoupin,  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  do  make 
and  publish  this  my  last  will  and  testament  in  manner  and  form  following;  that 
is  to  say:  First.  It  is  my  will  that  my  funeral  expenses  and  all  my  just  debts 
be  fully  paid.  Second.  I  give,  devise  and  bequeath  unto  my  beloved  wife,  Sally 
Murphy,  in  lieu  of  her  dower,  the  plantation  on  which  we  now  live,  containing 
about  thirty  acres,  which  is  bounded  as  follows :  that  is  to  say.  beginning  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  north  quarter  of  section  No.  twenty-nine,  in  township 
eleven,  north  of  range  eight,  west,  running  east  eighty  poles,  thence  north  sixty 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  83 

poles  to  the  beignning,  and  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  No.  thirty,  township  No.  seven,  north  range  eight,  west  of  the  third 
principal  meridian,  and  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
No.  thirty,  township  No.  seven,  with  range  No.  eight,  west  of  the  third  principal 
meridian,  containing  about  forty  acres  each,  during  her  natural  life,  and  all  the 
live  stock,  horses,  cattle,  sheep,  hogs,  by  me  now  owned,  or  which  I  may  own 
at  the  time  of  my  death.  And,  also,  the  household  furniture  and  other  items 
not  particularly  named  in  this  will,  during  her  natural  life  as  aforesaid,  she, 
however,  first  disposing  of  a  sufficiency  thereof  to  pay  my  just  debts  as  aforesaid, 
and  at  the  death  of  my  said  wife  all  the  property  hereby  devised  or  bequeathed 
to  her  aforesaid,  or  so  much  thereof  as  may  then  remain  unexpended,  to  my 
grandson,  Levi  Murphy,  and  to  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever.  Provided,  how- 
ever, that  if  my  grandson,  Levi  Murphy,  should  die  without  any  heirs,  then  it  is 
my  will  that  so  much  of  the  above  named  property  as  is  not  expended  of  by  the 
said  Levi  Murphy  at  his  death  to  go  to  my  a'dopted  son,  Henry  Anderson,  and 
to  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever.  And,  lastly,  I  do  hereby  constitute  and  appoint 
my  said  wife,  Sally  Murphy,  and  James  Breden,  to  be  the  executors  of  this  my 
last  will  and  testament. 

"In  testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal,  this  twelfth 
day  of  August  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty- 
seven.  "JOHN  MURPHY  (SEAL.)" 

"Signed,  published  and  delivered  by  the  above  named  John  Murphy,  as  and 
for  his  last  will  and  testament,  in  our  presence,  who,  at  his  request,  signed  as 
witnesses  to  the  same. 

"ISAAC  BREDEN, 

her 

"LOUISA    X    BREDEX." 

mark. 

FIRST  (AND  ONLY)  LEGAL  EXECUTION. 

Aaron  Todd  and  William  Todd  were  citizens  01  Indiana.  On  the  26th  day 
of  January,  1840,  they  were  traveling  toward  Indiana  from  the  west,  and  in 
their  company  was  their  cousin,  Larkin  Scott.  Near  Elm  Grove,  in  this  county, 
Larkin  Scott  was  murdered  by  the  brothers  for  the  small  sum  of  money  he  had 
with  him — some  $26.  He  was  killed  by  repeated  blows  from  a  bludgeon,  dealt 
by  Aaron  Todd.  The  corpse  of  the  victim  was  a  few  days  thereafter  found  on 
the  prairie,  and  the  officers  of  the  law  set  themselves  to  work  to  discover  and 
apprehend  the  murderers.  James  C.  Clack,  a  constable  of  Elm  Grove,  was 
especially  active  in  ferreting  out  the  perpetrators  of  this  heinous  crime,  and  the 
brothers,  Todd,  were  apprehended  in  Indiana,  and  brought  hither  for  trial.  They 
were  tried  and  convicted.  William  Thomas  presided  on  the  bench.  The  de- 
fendants being  too  poor  to  employ  counsel,  the  court  assigned  as  their  attorneys 
Francis  H.  Hereford,  Josiah  Fish,  John  A.  Chestnut  and  John  M.  Palmer.  The 
jurors  were:  Amos  Snook,  Achilles  "Tongate,  Joseph  Huddleston,  Jeremiah 
Suiter,  Fountain  Land,  Moses  True,  Thomas  Hughes,  Travis  Moore,  Thomas  J. 
McReynolds,  Jacob  Kinder,  Joseph  Phillips  and  Aquilla  P.  Pepperdine. 


84  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

The  state's  attorney  being  absent,  the  court  appointed  David  A.  Smith  as 
attorney  for  the  people  during  that  term  of  court.  The  trial  began  on  the  5th  of 
May.  The  verdict  of  the  jury  was  that  Aaron  Todd  was  guilty  of  murder  in 
the  first  degree,  and  on  the  8th,  Judge  Brown  sentenced  him  to  be  hung  on  the 
"2d  day  of  June  next,  and  that  on  that  day,  between  the  hours  of  twelve  o'clock 
M.  and  four  o'clock  P.  M.,  the  said  Aaron  Todd  be  taken  and  conveyed  to  some 
convenient  place  within  one  mile  of  the  court  house  in  Carlinville,  and  then  and 
there  he  hung  by  the  neck  until  he  be  dead,  for  the  offence  of  the  murder  whereof 
he  stands  convicted  by  the  jury  aforesaid;  and  the  court  doth  further  order  that 
the  sheriff,  by  himself  or  deputy,  execute  the  order." 

The  verdict  fixed  the  punishment  of  William  Todd  at  two  years  in  the  pen- 
itentiary. On  the  8th,  an  arrest  of  judgment  was  entered  in  the  case  of  William 
Todd.  He  finally  came  clear. 

The  news  that  a  man  was  to  be  hung  on  the  2d  of  June  spread  far  and 
wide,  and  when  the  day  arrived  that  the  sentence  of  the  court  was  to  be  executed, 
not  less  than  8,000  people  had  gathered  in  the  county  seat.  The  scaffold  was 
erected  south  of  West  Main  street,  below  the  depot.  Major  Burke  officiated  in 
person.  Dr.  John  Logan,  colonel  of  the  Forty-fourth  regiment  of  militia,  had 
five  hundred  of  his  men  in  line  for  the  preservation  of  order.  The  execution  was 
witnessed  by  an  immense  concourse  of  people.  Todd  met  his  fate  bravely  and 
with  resignation.  Two  weeks  before,  he  made  a  profession  of  religion,  and  died 
in  the  hope  of  a  better  life.  He  was  buried  on  the  west  side  of  the  burying 
ground,  at  some  distance  from  the  other  graves.  Some  days  after  his  remains 
were  interred,  they  were  exhumed,  and  his  head  and  one  arm  were  severed  from 
the  body  and  'taken  away. 

FIRST   TAVERN. 


At  the  county  commissioners'  court  held  at  Carlinville,  March  I,  1830: 
"On  motion  of  William  S.  Holton  he  is  allowed  to  keep  a  tavern  at  his 
own  house  in  the  county  of  Macoupin,  for  the  term  of  one  year  from  this  date, 
he  having  executed  bond  with  Tristram  P.  Hoxey,  as  required  by  law,  in  the 
sum  of  one  hundred  dollars,  and  the  said  William  S.  Holton  having  also  paid 
a  tax.  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  being  the  amount  of  tax  assessed  on  said  stand 
by  the  court. 

"It  is  considered  by  the  court  that  the  following  be  tavern  rates  for  the  year 
1830,  viz: — 

"Breakfast,  dinner  or  supper  for  one  person 25 

Horses  for  single  feed • 12^2 

Horse  per  night  or  day 25 

Lodging  per  night  for  one  person   6% 

Whiskey   per   half   pint    I2y2 

Rum,  Wine  or  French  Brandy  per  half  pint    25 

Cider  or  Beer  per  quart    i2l/2 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIX  COUNTY  85 

"And  the  several  tavern  keepers  are  authorized  to  receive  the  foregoing  rates 
and  no  more." 

COPY    OF   FIRST    TAVERN    BOND 

"Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  we,  William  S.  Holton  and  T.  B.  Hoxey, 
are  held  and  firmly  bound  unto  Ninian  Edwards,  Governor  of  the  State  of 
Illinois,  and  to  his  successor  in  office,  in  the  penal  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars, 
lawful  money  of  the  United  States  of  America,  for  the  payment  of  which  said  sum 
of  money  well  and  truly  to  be  made,  we,  and  each  of  us,  bind  ourselves  and  heirs, 
executors  and  administrators  jointly,  severally  and  firmly,  by  these  presents. 
Sealed  with  our  seals,  and  dated  this  first  day  of  March,  A.  D.  1830. 

"The  conditions  of  the  above  obligations  are  such  that  whereas  the  above 
bound  William  S.  Holton  hath  obtained  license  and  permission  from  the  county 
commissioners'  court  of  the  county  of  Macoupin,  State  of  Illinois,  to  keep  a 
tavern  or  inn,  at  his  own  house  in  the  county  aforesaid,  for  the  term  of  one  year, 
from  this  date :  Now  if  the  said  William  S.  Holton  shall  at  all  times  be  of  good 
behaviour,  and  observe  all  the  laws  and  ordinances,  which  are  or  shall  be  made, 
or  be  in  force  relating  to  innkeepers  or  tavernkeepers  within  the  state,  and  further 
that  he  will  at  all  times  keep  meat  and  lodging  for  at  least  four  persons,  over  and 
above  his  common  family,  and  stabling  and  provender  for  their  horses.  Then 
this  obligation  to  be  void,  else  to  remain  in  full  force  and  effect. 
"Attest 
T.  P.  HOXEY. 

W.  S.  HOLTON 

(Seal)" 
T.  P.  HOXEY. 

ROADS. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  commissioners'  court  held  at  the  house  of  Ezekiel 
Good  in  August,  1829,  sundry  voters  petitioned  that  a  road  should  be  laid  out 
from  Carlinville  towards  Jacksonville,  as  far  as  the  county  extended*  at  the  same 
time  other  voters  petitioned  a  road  should  be  made  from  Carlinville  toward  Car- 
rollton.  Both  petitions,  it  will  appear,  were  successful,  from  the  following: 

"At  a  commissioners'  court,  begun  and  held  at  the  house  of  Ezekiel  Good,  in 
and  for  the  county  of  Macoupin,  on  Monday,  the  seventh  day  of  December,  A.  D. 
1829. 

"Present  Theodorus  Davis,  Sr.,  and  William  Wilcox,  Commissioner. 

"The  viewers  appointed  by  the  last  term  of  this  court  to  view  and  lay  out  a 
road  from  Carlinville  (as  far  as  this  county  extends)  in  a  direction  to  Jackson- 
ville on  the  nearest  and  best  route,  made  return  of  their  proceedings,  to  wit: 
That  said  road  as  viewed  by  them,  begins  at  the  north  end  of  Broad  street,  thence 
in  a  northwestern  direction  through  the  head  timbers  of  Hurricane  creek,  thence 
to  the  north  fork  of  Macoupin,  and  crossing  the  same  near  Reuben  Clevenger's 
farm,  thence  pretty  much  in  the  same  direction  to  Lewis  Solomon's  farm,  run- 
ning on  the  northeast  side  of  the  same,  and  thence  to  the  rock  ford  on  Apple 
creek  in  Morgan  county,  which  said  report  is  approved  and  accepted  by  the  court. 


86  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

and  said  road  is  ordered  to  be  opened  and  kept  in  repair,  and  when  opened  to  be  a 
public  highway  and  subject  to  all  the  laws  and  regulations  of  other  highways. 

"The  viewers  appointed  by  the  last  term  of  this  court  to  view  and  lay  out  a 
road  from  Carlinville  to  this  county  line,  to  pass  by  Bear  Creek  Point,  thence  to 
Daniel  Deadrick's  house,  thence  north  of  Norris  Hayes'  in  a  direction  to  Carroll- 
ton,  made  return  of  their  proceeding,  to  wit :  That  said  road  after  being  viewed 
by  them,  was  deemed  necessary  and  proper,  and  that  the  same  begins  at  the  west 
end  of  Main  street,  and  is  designated  by  staking  the  prairies  and  blazing  the 
timbered  land  through  which  it  passes  agreeably  to  the  order  of  said  court,  which 
said  report  is  approved  and  accepted  by  the  court  and  said  road  ordered  to  be 
opened,  to  be  a  public  highway  and  subject  to  all  the  laws  and  regulations  of  other 
highways. 

"Viewers  for  the  Jacksonville  Road. 

"Joseph  Borough,  John  Love  and  Russel  Taver.    $8,37^  cost  of  survey. 

"Viewers  for  the  Carrollton  Road. 
"Samuel  Lear,  Ezekiel  Good  and  Daniel  Deadrick.    $6.75^  cost  of  survey." 


CHAPTER  IV. 
TOPOGRAPHY. 

MACOUPIN    IS    CLASSED  AS   ONE   OF   THE   SOUTH-CENTRAL    COUNTIES THE   COUNTY 

AN  OBLONG  SQUARE ORIGINALLY  OF  PRAIRIE  AND  UNDULATING SOIL GRASSES 

TIMBER MOUNDS,    ETC. 

Macoupin  county  lies  directly  north  of  the  39th  parallel  of  latitude.  It  is 
classed  as  one  of  the  south-central  counties.  The  meridian  of  15°  west  longi- 
tude from  Washington  passes  through  almost  to  the  center  of  the  county.  It 
is  thirty-six  miles  from  north  to  south,  and  twenty-four  miles  from  east  to 
west,  measured  in  section  lines,  and  contains  an  area  of  864  square  miles  or 
552,960  acres.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Morgan  and  Sangamon  counties, 
east  by  Montgomery,  south  by  Madison,  west  by  Greene  and  Jersey  counties. 

Carlinville,  the  capital  of  the  county,  situated  near  the  center,  is  distant  from 
Chicago,  223  miles,  and  from  St.  Louis,  57  miles. 

Form — In  form  the  county  is  an  oblong  square,  and  is  divided  into  twenty- 
four  congressional  townships,  and  into  twenty-five  municipal  township  or  voting 
precincts. 

Population — The  population  of  the  county,  according  to  the  census  of  1910, 
is  50,685,  and  is  composed  of  persons  of  English,  Irish  and  German  extraction, 
with  a  few  colored  persons. 

Land  Surface — The  land  surface  is  divided  between  timber  and  prairie,  the 
greater  part  being  prairie.  The  surface  is  rather  undulating.  There  are  occasion- 
ally small  hills  or  bluffs  adjacent  to  the  streams,  principally  along  the  Macoupin 
creek  and  its  tributaries.  The  county  is  a  portion  of  what  has  been  happily 
termed  the  "Grand  Prairie  of  the  West,"  which  extends  to  the  heavily  timbered 
regions  of  the  sluggish  Wabash  on  the  east,  to  the  pine  clad  Rocky  Mountains 
on  th,e  west. 

The  greater  portion  of  the  county  consisted  originally  of  prairie.  Concerning 
the  causes  that  produced  the  vast  tr.eeless  plains,  various  theories  have  been  ad- 
vanced. The  more  plausible  one  is  that  the  prairies  were  "formed  under  marsh — 
of  conditions  unfavorable  to  the  growth  of  forests,  and  that  these  marshes  in 
the  course  of  time  became  dry,  either  by  the  subsidence  of  the  waters  or  ele- 
vation of  the  land." 

Waters — It  is  watered  by  several  streams;  the  Macoupin  creek  is  the  largest. 
It  rises  in  Bois  de  Arc,  Montgomery  county,  and  runs  in  a  tortuous  and  meander- 
ing southwestern  direction  through  the  county,  and  leaves  it  on  section  6,  Ches- 

87 


88  HISTORY  OF  MACOUi'IX  COUNTY 

terfield  township ;  this  with  its  numerous  tributaries  drains  the  largest  area.  The 
northwestern  portion  of  the  county  is  admirably  drained  by  Hodges',  Bear,  Lick, 
Otter,  Solomon's,  Joe's  and  Apple  creeks.  These  with  their  tributaries  drain 
about  nine  townships  or  217,360  acres  of  land.  The  south  and  southeast  por- 
tion of  the  county  are  drained  by  Cahokia,  Sweet  and  Indian  creeks,  and  the 
streams  running  into  Wood  river.  Each  of  these  streams  possesses  its  tribu- 
taries, so  that  the  entire  surface  of  the  county  is  well  watered  and  drained.  In 
portions  of  the  county  good  water  is  afforded  by  copious  springs.  The  surface 
is  higher  than  adjacent  counties,  as  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  so  many 
streams  here  have  their  source.  The  high  grounds  are  the  water  sheds  between 
the  creeks.  A  few  mounds  exist,  of  which  Coop's  and  Brush  Mounds  are  the 
most  noted.  The  natural  and  artificial  groves,  the  fringed  banks  of  the  water 
courses,  the  smiling  farms,  with  their  fields  of  maize  and  grain  and  herds  of 
cattle,  all  go  to  form  a  picture  of  surpassing  loveliness.  But  little  of  the  land 
is  too  flat  for  drainage,  or  broken  for  tillage,  and  hence  the  greater  portion  is 
susceptible  of  cultivation  and  affords  the  widest  application  of  machinery.  The 
climate  is  healthful  and  is  a  happy  medium  between  extremes  of  heat  and  cold. 
The  county  forms  part  of  the  great  maize  belt  of  the  continent  and  its  soil  is 
unsurpassed  in  fertility.  It  is  very  uniform  throughout.  Corn,  wheat,  oats, 
barley,  rye,  potatoes,  flax  or  hemp,  beans  or  turnips,  or  any  other  farm  products 
yield  a  bountiful  crop. 

Grasses — Blue  grass,  red  and  white  top  clover  and  timothy  grow  with  great 
luxuriance.  The  chief  industry  of  the  people  is  agriculture  and  stock-raising, 
which  employs  a  majority  of  the  people  of  the  county,  who  possess  all  the  ster- 
ling virtues  of  the  rural  freeholder.  Directly  upon  the  broad  shoulders  of  the 
tiller  of  the  soil  rests  the  prosperity  of  every  other  class  of  men.  He  holds  in 
his  hands  the  destinies  of  all.  His  prosperity  means  universal  prosperity ;  his 
failure,  universal  distress. 

Soil  and  Agriculture — This  county  is  situated  in  the  heart  of  the  best  corn 
producing  region  in  the  state,  and  its  prairie  lands,  which  constitute  by  far  the 
largest  part  of  its  area,  are  unsurpassed  among  the  uplands  in  the  state  in  fer- 
tility, and  annually  produce  large  crops  of  Indian  corn,  as  well  as  the  small  grains 
and  grass,  without  the  aid  of  fertilizers  or  artificial  stimulants  of  any  kind. 
With  a  judicious  system  of  rotation  of  crops,  these  lands  may  be  thus  cultivated 
for  an  indefinite  period  without  any  serious  deterioration  in  their  productive 
qualities. 

The  soil  on  the  level  prairie  is  of  a  black,  peaty  character,  becoming  of  a 
chocolate  brown  color  on  the  more  rolling  surfaces,  and  degenerating  into  a  light 
ash-gray  color  on  the  oak  ridges,  which  are  the  poorest  lands  in  the  county.  But 
these  poorer  soils  upon  the  broken  lands  that  border  the  streams  are  excellent 
fruit  lands,  and  also  produce  good  crops  of  wheat  and  clover,  if  properly 
cultivated. 

The  bottom  lands  in  this  county  are  restricted  to  a  narrow  belt  along  the 
lower  course  of  the  Macoupin,  and  some  portion  of  this  has  been  cleared  of  the 
heavy  growth  of  timber  and  brought  under  cultivation,  and  is  equal  to  the  best 
prairie  soils,  especially  in  the  growth  of  corn. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  89 

Natural  Mounds — There  are  some  natural  mounds  in  the  eastern  portion  of 
the  county,  among  the  most  conspicuous  of  which  is  Coop's  Mound,  eight  miles 
northeast  of  Carlinville.  This  mound  covers  an  area  of  several  acres,  and  is  about 
sixty  feet  in  height  above  the  level  of  the  adjacent  prairie.  It  was  originally 
covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  oak  and  hickory,  and  from  its  summit  a  beau- 
tiful view  of  the  surrounding  country  may  be  seen. 

Timber — The  native  kinds  of  timber  are  fully  set  forth  in  the  chapter  on 
flora  of  the  county.  The  largest  bodies  of  timber  are  found  along  the  Macoupin, 
Otter,  Solomon's,  Hodges',  Coop's  and  Cahokia  creeks  and  their  tributaries,  and 
the  head  waters  of  the  Wood  river.  The  largest  timber  districts  are  in  Brushy 
Mound,  Polk,  Chesterfield,  Western  Mound  and  Barr  townships.  Artificial 
groves  and  belts,  consisting  chiefly  of  hard  and  soft  maple,  elm,  and  fruit  trees 
have  been  planted  on  the  prairies  for  shade  and  shelter  from  winter  winds  for 
stock. 

Fine  belts  of  timber  skirt  the  banks  of  all  the  streams  in  the  county,  fur- 
nishing an  adequate  supply  for  fencing  and  for  fuel  to  those  who  prefer  wood  to 
coal.  The  principal  growth  upon  the  uplands  is  two  or  three  varieties  of  oak 
and  hickory  on  the  ridges  adjacent  to  the  streams,  while  on  the  more  level  lands 
skirting  the  prairies  there  are  fine  groves,  which,  in  addition  to  these  varieties, 
contain  elm,  linden,  wild  cherry,  honey  locust,  black  walnut  and  hackberry,  and 
indicate  a  soil  of  excellent  quality.  On  the  creek  bottoms  the  cottonwood,  syca- 
more, white  and  sugar  maple,  ash,  redbud,  dogwood,  sassafras,  persimmon,  paw- 
paw and  white  walnut  are  common. 


CHAPTER  V. 
THE  PIONEER. 

DAVID  COOP  THE  FIRST  SETTLER A  CREEK  AND  MOUND  NAMED  FOR  THE  PIONEER — • 

LOCATED  ON  COOP'S  CREEK  IN    l8l5 OTHERS  SOON  FOLLOWED NAMES  OF  MANY 

WHO    CAME  AT   A  LATER  PERIOD  BUT   OPENED  THE  COUNTY   TO   SETTLEMENT. 

Macoupin  county  has  had  its  disputations  over  the  question  of  who  was  the 
first  settler  within  its  borders.  In  this  it  has  nothing  on  its  neighbors.  Probably 
not  a  county  in  the  state  but  what  has  gone  through  the  throes  of  doubt  and  inde- 
cision upon  the  same  subject  and  if  any  one  of  them  has  ever  reached  a  conclusion 
satisfactory  to  each  and  every  disputant,  then  the  old  saying  is  really  true  that 
"wonders  never  cease." 

In  the  case  of  Macoupin  county,  it  is  well  settled  that  David  Coop  was  in  the 
county  as  early  as  the  spring  of  1815.  John  Reynolds,  one  of  the  first  governors 
of  the  state,  who  wrote  profusely  and  carefully  of  the  early  history  of  Illinois 
and  in  a  work  entitled  "My  Own  Times"  had  this,  among  other  things,  to  say  of 
Macoupin's  first  settler:  "Mr.  Coop  and  family,  in  the  spring  of  1815,  broke 
through  the  old  Indian  frontier  of  Madison  county  and  settled  in  the  limits  of  the 
present  county  of  Macoupin."  Governor  Reynolds  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the 
state,  a  man  of  large  capacity  and  opportunity  for  learning  events  of  importance 
pertinent  to  the  history  of  the  principal  communities  making  component  parts  of 
the  state,  and  by  careful  research  gave  to  the  productions  of  his  pen  a  character 
and  atmosphere  that  instilled  confidence  in  his  readers.  History  therefore  ac-* 
credits  David  Coop  and  his  family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  four  boys,  John, 
David,  Jr.,  William  G.,  who  afterwards  became  the  first  county  treasurer  of  Ma- 
coupin, and  Ransom,  together  with  several  daughters,  with  being  the  first  settlers 
here.  In  the  spring  of  1815,  the  Coops  set  their  stakes  for  a  home  on  what  has1 
since  been  known  as  Coop's  creek,  near  the  center  of  Hilyard  township,  and  here 
they  remained  until  about  1825,  when  they  removed  to  the  locality  designated  as 
Coop's  Mound,  six  miles  northeast  of  Carlinville.  The  family  remained  at  Coop's 
Mound  for  some  years  and  then,  becoming  restless  and  probably  cramped  for 
room  by  incoming  settlers,  decamped  and  became  the  pioneers  of  an  Iowa  settle- 
ment. 

To  the  early  arrival  in  this  locality  of  Seth  T.  Hodges  and  John  Love,  both 
of  Alabama,  almost  at  the  same  time  as  the  Coops,  must  be  attributed  the  doubts 
as  to  whom  should  be  ascribed  the  title  of  first  settler.  Hodges  and  Love  had 
immigrated  from  Tennessee  to  Madison  county  in  1814  and  no  doubt  has  arisen 

90 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  91 

in  the  minds  of  former  historians  as  to  their  coming  to  Macoupin  in  1815.  What 
time  of  the  year  first  found  them  here  is  not  recorded,  but  in  the  case  of  David 
Coop,  the  spring  of  1815  is  specifically  stated.  Another  thing,  Hodges  and  Love, 
even  if  they  were  here  in  1815  before  Coop,  they  did  not  take  up  a  permanent  set- 
tlement at  that  time,  but  were  merely  bent  on  hunting  and  taking  observations 
with  a  view  towards  finding  a  suitable  location.  A  year  later,  having  returned  to 
their  homes,  they  brought  their  families  and  fixed  habitations  in  Palmyra  town- 
ship. Seth  Hodges  became  one  of  the  "big"  farmers  of  those  early  days  and,  it 
is  said,  produced  800  bushels  of  corn  from  a  ten-acre  tract  of  land  in  1817.  He 
was  a  "dead  shot"  with  the  rifle  and  became  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  his 
day.  Mr.  Hodges  was  chosen  as  a  member  of  the  first  commissioners'  court  and 
died  from  the  effects  of  an  accident  by  falling  into  a  well. 

John  Love,  who  accompanied  Hodges  to  this  land  of  promise,  was  his  life 
long  friend.  Love  married  Cynthia  Seymore  in  Tennessee  and  with  his  wife  and 
two  children  traveled  from  the  south  on  horseback.  Samuel  Love,  long  a  resident 
here,  was  born  in  the  county  in  1824,  and  John  Jefferson  Love  in  1819,  in  Palmyra 
township. 

Abram  Fulk  also  married  a  Seymore  and  came  to  the  county  later  in  the  year 
1815.  Richard  Wilhelm,.  whose  wife  was  a  Seymore,  arrived  in  1817  and  settled 
on  Cahokia  creek,  in  Staunton  township.  John  Powell,  a  son-in-law  of  David 
Coop,  and  Abram  Fulk,  settled  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Hilyard  township  in  the 
fall  of  1815;  John  C.  Wood  and  Richard  Wilhelm,  with  their  families,  settled  in 
the  county  in  1817,  and  were  the  "first  comers"  that  year. 

Telemachus  Camp  was  one  of  the  arrivals  in  1817.  He  was  born  in  Georgia 
and  later  became  a  resident  of  Alabama,  and  thence  came  to  the  territory  of  Illi- 
nois. On  August  18,  1819,  he  made  the  first  entry  of  land  in  Macoupin  county. 
In  1826  Mr.  Camp  changed  his  residence  to  the  prairie  southeast  of  Staunton, 
where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  John 
Seymore  came  to  Macoupin  county  and  settled  on  the  same  section  of  land  on 
which  his  son-in-law,  Richard  Wilhelm,  was  located,  in  Staunton  township.  His 
death  occurred  at  the  home  -of  his  son-in-law,  John  Love,  in  Palmyra  township, 
where  his  wife  also  died. 

Smith's  creek;  in  Hilyard  township,  derived  its  name  from  Thomas  Smith, 
who  settled  near  its  banks,  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  township,  in  1818,  the 
year  in  which  Illinois  was  admitted  as  an  integral  part  of  the  Union.  At  that 
time  there  were  only  ten  families,  or  forty  souls  within  the  borders. 

Richard  Chapman,  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  came  to  Illinois  in  1818  and 
settled  in  St.  Clair  county,  where  he  remained  until  December,  1819,  at  which  time 
he  settled  in  Macoupin  county,  in  what  is  now  known  as  Dorchester  township. 
At  that  time  his  own  and  two  other  families  were  the  only  settlers  in  this  part  of 
the  state.  Later,  in  1821,  Mr.  Chapman  settled  in  Staunton  township  and  re- 
mained there  until  1857.'  His  death  occurred  in  1872  at  Carlinville,  at  the  age  of 
ninety.  John  D.  Chapman  came  at  the  same  time  as  Richard  and  the  two  families 
occupied  one  cabin  with  only  one  room  until  another  could  be  built.  In  1826  they 
left  the  timber  and  settled  just  east  of  what  was  known  as  the  Sawyer  place. 

In  September,  1820,  Jesse  Chapman,  a  ship  carpenter  and  sailor  by  trade, 
"squatted"  near  his  brothers,  where  he  built  a  cabin.  He  remained  here  but  a 


92  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

year  and  went  to  Alabama ;  his  cabin  was  occupied  by  a  Mr.  Castile  and  later  by 
Mr.  Piper. 

In  1821  several  families  arrived  to  swell  the  settlement  and  in  1824  Jesse  Chap- 
man returned.  Among  those  who  came  in  1821  were  James  B.  Cowell,  a  farmer. 
Mr.  Cowell  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina  but  before  coming  to  Illinois  had  lived 
some  time  in  Tennessee.  He  first  settled  in  Madison  county  and  from  there 
moved  to  Macoupin.  He  only  stayed  here  a  year,  when  he  returned  to  Madison 
but  in  another  year  came  back  and  took  up  a  permanent  settlement. 

Roger  Snell,  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  with  his  wife  Mary  and  family,  moved 
to  Macoupin  county  in  1821  and  settled  a  mile  west  of  the  town  of  Staunton.  He 
died  in  1858.  He,  as  well  as  Archibald  Hoxsey,  was  among  the  early  school 
teachers  in  this  district.  His  son,  Hosea  Snell,  attended  the  first  school  ever 
taught  in  Staunton  township,  which  was  held  in  a  little  log  schoolhouse  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  northwest  of  Staunton.  In  1835  Hosea  married  Angelica  Saw- 
•  yer.  In  1840  he  removed  to  Bunker  Hill  prairie,  where  he  entered  land.  His 
first  wife  died  in  1836  and  in  1838  he  married  Melinda  Parisher,  who  died  in  1847. 
In  the  same  year  John  Cormack  settled  near  Telemachus  Camp  but  soon  be- 
came dissatisfied  and  returned  to  Edwardsville.  He  did  not  remain  there  any 
great  length  of  time  before  he  was  back  in  Macoupin  cpunty. 

Another  immigrant  about  this  time  was  Abraham  Wyatt,  of  Tennessee,  who 
built  and  for  a  short  time  occupied  what  became  the  first  schoolhouse  in  the 
county  He  also  became  dissatisfied  with  the  country  and  removed  back  to  Ten- 
nessee but  subsequently  returned. 

From  Tennessee,  in  1821,  came  Ephraim  Powers  and  his  family,  with  his 
sons-in-law,  James  Caulk  and  Joshua  Perkins.  The  discomfitures  of  frontier  life 
and  the  prevalence  of  disease  caused  dissatisfaction  and  they  returned  to  their  old 
home  in  the  south  but  in  1824  were  back  in  Macoupin  county.  Powers  first  settled 
on  the  place  improved  by  Richard  Wilhelm. 

Lewis  Cormack  and  his  son  William  returned  from  Tennessee  with  James 
B.  Cowell  and  at  about  the  same  time  Abraham  and  Evan  Smith,  with  their  fami- 
lies, settled  on  the  south  side  of  Macoupin  creek,  near  the  line  of  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  railroad. 

To  this  same  locality  also  came  Shadrach  Reddick  and  Daniel  Deadrick,  with 
their  families,  about  this  time.  Reddick  was  a  ranger  in  the  war  of  1812.  Daniel 
Deadrick  in  1835  moved  to  Missouri,  where  he  died.  His  son,  the  Rev.  D.  P. 
Deadrick,  "was  born  in  this  county  in  1829. 

At  about  the  time  these  pioneers  settled  here  William  Wilcox  became  one 
of  their  number.  He  taught  the  first  school  held  in  the  county  in  1822,  in  Staun- 
ton township.  It  was  held  in  a  log  cabin  built  by  Abraham  Wyatt  and  abandoned 
by  him,  as  before  stated.  •  Mr.  Wilcox  offered  to  teach  the  school,  provided  he 
could  get  fifteen  pupils  at  two  dollars  per  term,  which  offer  was  accepted.  It  was 
further  agreed  that  he  was  to  teach  eight  hours  a  day,  five  days  in  the  week,  for 
thirteen  weeks.  The  course  of  study  embraced  writing,  arithmetic,  reading  and 
spelling.  The  house  was  14x16  feet,  had  one  door  but  no  window  and  was  pro- 
vided with  a  puncheon  floor  and  fire  place.  The  patrons  furnished  the  seats  and 
the  teacher  "boarded  round."  In  1823  Mr.  Wilcox  married  Miss  Polly  Cormack 
and  ceased  to  "board  round." 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  93 

From  1821  immigration  increased.  The  fear  of  Indians  had  died  away  and 
the  chief  enemy  the  settler  had  to  combat  was  the  malarial  diseases  so  prevalent 
in  a  new  country.  As  will  have  been  noticed,  the  settlers  came  from  the  Caro- 
linas,  Georgia,  Virginia,  Tennessee  and  Kentucky. 

The  following  incident  relating  to  William  Wilcox  may  here  be  retold  with 
interest  to  the  reader.  A  large  gray  wolf  attacked  some  chickens.  Wilcox  heard 
the  commotion  among  his  chickens  and  opened  his  cabin  door  and  went  out  to  dis- 
cover the  cause.  He  found  the  wolf  in  or  near  the  coop.  This  wolf  seemed  de- 
termined to  have  a  chicken,  and  when  Wilcox  attempted  to  drive  it  away,  it  flew 
at  him  and  seized  him  by  the  leg,  holding  on  until  Wilcox  choked  it  loose.  From 
the  wound  which  the  wolf  inflicted,  Wilcox  suffered  greatly  and  from  that  time 
to  his  death  had  to  use  crutches  when  he  walked.  It  was  supposed  that  the  wolf 
had  hydrophobia,  as  a  dog  belonging  to  Wilcox  that  had  fought  the  wolf,  after- 
ward died  from  that  disease. 

James  and  Matthew  Hall  were  natives  oft  North  Carolina  and  emigrated  to 
Illinois  in  1816,  settling  in  Madison  county.  Shortly  thereafter,  James  Hall 
settled  in  this  county  with  the  families  of  Seth  T.  Hodges  and  John  Love.  In 
1823  he  located  on  the  creek  about  seven  miles  southwest  of  Carlinville.  His 
brother,  Matthew  Hall,  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  came  to  the  county  several  years 
later.  James  Hall  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  intellect  and  his  muscular 
strength  was  beyond  that  of  most  men.  His  wife  died  in  1835  and  he  followed 
her  some  years  later. 

John  Pope  also  came  to  the  county  in  1823  and  sold  his  claim  to  Charles 
McVey  in  1825,  but  remained  in  the  county. 

Theodoras  Davis,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  was  one  of  the  early  Illinois  pioneers. 
In  the  spring  of  1823  he  settled  here  with  his  wife  and  children,  Theodoras,  Jr., 
John  L..  Belden,  William  H.  H.,  Morgan,  Oliver  C.,  Porter,  Polly,  who  became 
the  wife  of  David  Gregory,  Sally,  who  married  John  Tomer,  and  Lavina,  who 
married  a  Mr.  Ward.  The  boys  were  noted  for  their  skill  as  violinists.  Theo- 
doras married  a  widow,  sister  of  John  Burleson.  John  L.  married  a  sister  of 
Oliver  W.  Hall  and  Belden  married  Mary,  a  daughter  of  Seth  T.  Hodges.  Theo- 
doras Davis  became  a  promihent  and  prosperous  citizen  of  the  county.  Oliver 
died  on  the  plains,  while  on  his  way  to  California.  Belden  moved  to  Missouri. 
Some  of  the  family  died  here.  Theodoras  and  others  of  the  family  moved  to 
Iowa  and  some  of  the  representatives  of  the  family  are  still  living  in  the  county. 

Isaac  Hall,  noted  for  his  great  strength,  a  brother  of  James  and  Matthew 
Hall,  while  living  in  Madison  county  heard  of  the  sickness  of  his  brother  James. 
While  visiting  his  brother,  David  Gregory,  a  neighbor,  became  violently  sick 
and  at  the  same  time  were  his  wife  and  two  children  upon  a  sick  bed.  James 
Hall  sent  his  brother  Isaac  over  to  take  care  of  the  stricken  family.  Mr.  Greg- 
ory died,  and  leaving  the  sick  wife  and  children  in  the  house,  Isaac  Hall,  with 
his  ax,  went  into  the'woods  and  there  split  out  rude  puncheons  for  a  coffin.  Fit- 
ting the  rude  casket  into  the  grave,  he  returned  to  the  house  and  taking  the  corpse 
on  his  shoulder,  he  toiled  with  it  up  the  hill,  laid  it  in  the  coffin  and  covered  it 
with  mother  earth. 

Samuel  Lair,  with  his  family,  consisting  of  wife  and  two  boys,  left  his  home 
in  Madison  county  in  1823,  or  possibly  sooner,  and  settled  with  his  brother, 


94  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Charles  Lair,  Sr.,  on  Otter  creek.  He  eventually  left  Otter  creek  and  built  a  log 
cabin  west  of  the  city  of  Carlinville  near  the  Burke  farm.  Mr.  Lair  became  a 
member  of  the  second  board  of  county  commissioners.  He  was  the  father  of 
Charles,  Jr.,  John  Austin  and  William  Lair.  William  reared  a  large  family, 
John  moved  to  Missouri  and  Charles  died. 

About  this  time  George  Matthews  erected  a  cabin  and  began  to  improve  a 
farm  near  Seth  T.  Hodges'  on  Hodges'  creek.  Here  he  died.  His  widow  after- 
ward became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Hodges. 

As  will  have  been  noticed,  John  Pope,  who  came  in  1823,  sold  his  claim  to 
Charles  McVey.  The  latter  was  the  first  of  the  family  to  settle  here.  Others 
of  the  family  came  in  1826  from  Tennessee  and  settled  east  of  Coop's  Mound. 
The  family  consisted  of  seven  brothers.  William  arrived  in  1831 ;  Charles  sold 
his  claim  to  John  Yowell ;  the  other  boys  were  John,  Nathan,  Samuel  Edley  and 
Thomas.  Their  home  was  in  what  was  known  as  Sherrill's  fork,  being  named  for 
John  Sherrill  who  settled  there  at  an  early  day.  One  of  the  boys  served  in  the 
Black  Hawk  war.  John  and  William  died  here.  Edley  and  Charles  moved  to 
Missouri.  One  of  William's  sons,  John  Wesley  McVey,  became  a  well  known 
citizen  of  Nilwood  township. 

Shaw's  Point  township  derived  its  name  from  a  Mr.  Shaw,  whose  first  name 
is  not  recorded.  He  settled  in  the  township  in  1824  or  1825,  where  he  built  a 
cabin  and  cultivated  a  few  acres  of  land.  As  soon  as  other  settlers  began  to  come 
in  he  became  dissatisfied  and  left  for  a  newer  country.  His  first  neighbors  in 
the  township  were  Job  Sperry  and  C.  R.  Hutton. 

Andrew  Hetrick  came  to  Macoupin  county  in  1825  from  Carrollton  and  built 
a  small  cabin  on  Negro  Lick.  With  him  was  a  wife  and  seven  children.  The 
same  year  also  came  Howard  Finley  and  Mr.  Branscomb,  who  settled  in  Bunker 
Hill  township. 

Lewis  Solomon  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  who  came  to  Illinois  in  1825  and 
settled  in  Morgan  county,  afterward  coming  to  Macoupin  county  and  locating 
in  North  Palmyra  township,  where  he  cleared  a  tract  of  government  land.  This 
he  improved  and  made  his  home  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1849.  He 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace  before  the  county  was  organized  and  was  the  first 
justice  elected  after  it  became  a  county.  He  married  Sarah  Bawd'en,  who  was  a 
native  of  Franklin  county.  North  Carolina.  She  preceded  her  husband  in  death 
a  few  months. 

John  Cummings,  father  of  Captain  Samuel  Cummings,  a  native  of  Virginia, 
came  to  Macoupin  with  his  wife,  Lucinda  (Elliott)  Cummings,  and  family  in 
1825,  settling  on  section  4,  North  Palmyra  township.  His  wife  died  in  1838  and 
he  followed  her  in  1844.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children. 

Thomas  Judy  arrived  with  his  family  in  1826  and  settled  in  Western  Mound 
township.  He  afterward  married  the  widow  of  John  Love.  Samuel  Judy  came 
several  years  later  and  settled  at  the  forks  of  Hodges'  creek.  Subsequently,  he 
moved  back  to  Madison  county. 

Oliver  Brown,  in  1826,  came  from  Carrollton  with  his  nephew,  William 
Cowan  and  built  a  cabin  ten  feet  square  in  Brighton  township.  Cowan  was  an 
Ohioan  and  was  renowned  for  his  giant  like  strength.  It  is  said  he  had  the  ability 
to  do  the  work  of  two  men.  His  employer  recognized  this  fact  in  1834,  when  he 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  95 

paid  him  double  wages  throughout  the  year.  Mr.  Brown  held  a  squatter's  claim 
until  1827,  when  he  entered  the  land,,  a  part  of  which  is  now  the  south  and  busi- 
ness portion  of  Brighton. 

Old  settlers  were  wont  to  speak  in  terms  of  respect  and  affection  of  John 
Harris,  a  man  who  became  closely  connected  with  the  early  history  and  develop- 
ment of  Macoupin  county,  to  which  locality  he  emigrated  in  1826,  locating  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  county,  which  was  afterwards  given  the  name  of  Harris 
Point.  He  was  a  brigadier  general  of  militia  in  the  Black  Hawk  war  and  be- 
came the  first  sheriff  of  Macoupin  county.  He  was  a  man  who  was  looked  up 
to  by  his  neighbors  as  having  a  superior  judgment  and  better  education  than  the 
majority  of  the  people.  For  his  second  wife  he  married  the  widow  of  David 
Coop,  Sr.,  the  first  settler  of  this  county,  who  had  removed  to  Iowa. 

John  Burleson  was  a  stepbrother  of  Seth  T.  Hodges  and  came  to  this  county 
in  1827.  With  him  was  his  mother  and  other  members  of  the  family,  all  of 
whom  were  taken  into  the  home  of  Hodges.  . 

The  Rev.  James  Solomon  arrived  this  same  year  from  North  Carolina,  also 
Andrew  Hughes  and  Henrietta,  with  their  families. 

In  the  fall  of  1827  Ezekiel  Ross  settled  in  the  county  and  built  a  cabin  on 
Apple  creek  in  Scottville  township,  into  which  he  moved  with  his  family  on 
Christmas  day. 

William  Brewer,  a  Virginian  by  birth,  became  a  resident  of  Brighton  in  1827 
but  in  1849  struck  out  for  California  to  acquire  some  of  the  gold  thousands  of 
others  were  seeking. 

Nathan  Scarrett  had  settled  seven  miles  south  of  the  site  of  Brighton,  on  the 
line  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  railroad,  as  early  as  1827.  This  same  year  Bennett 
Tilley  and  family  settled  on  Western  Mound.  They  were  natives  of  North  Caro- 
lina. The  same  year  William  Smith  and  family  located  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Tilleys. 

Another  resident  of  the  county  who  settled  here  this  year,  in  Bunker  Hill 
township,  was  Aaron  Husong. 

The  time  of  the  advent  of  Joseph  Borough  is  somewhat  in  doubt.  It  is  pre- 
sumed he  came  to  the  county  in  1827.  He  was  a  Virginian  and  had  moved  to 
Madison  county,  Illinois.  Mr.  Borough  settled  east  of  Carlinville,  where  he  lived 
and  raised  his  family.  He  served  the  people  as  senator  in  the  general  assembly. 

James  Breden  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Bunker  Hill  township.  He  was 
a  native  of  Virginia.  When  nineteen  years  of  age  he  went  to  Tennessee,  where 
he  was  married  to  a  Miss  Anderson.  In  March,  1827,  he  came  to  Macoupin 
county  arid  settled  on  section  9,  of  the  present  Bunker  Hill  township,  locating 
at  the  head  of  Wood  river.  Along  that  stream  the  remains  of  Indian  lodges 
were  still  in  existence.  On  this  tract  he  built  a  log  house,  in  which  he  lived  until 
1840.  This  home  was  replaced  by  another,  where  the  old  pioneer  spent  the  rest 
of  his  days.  His  first  wife  having  died,  he  married  Mrs.  Cynthia  Ann  Barrow, 
formerly  Cynthia  Ann  Neaville,  in  1836.  She  was  the  widow  of  William  Bar- 
row, a  native  of  Kentucky,  who  settled  on  Dry  Fork,  near  the  Bunker  Hill  and 
Carlinville  road,  in  1827.  William  Barrow  enlisted  in  the  Black  Hawk  war  and 
was  in  the  campaign  against  the  Indians  in  1831.  From  the  fact  that  he  never 
returned,  it  is  supposed  that  he  was  killed  by  the  Indians. 


96  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

James  W.  York  became  well  known  as  a  stock-raiser  of  this  county.  He 
settled  here  in  1828. 

Peter  Akes,  Sr.,  with  his  four  grown  sons,  Alfred,  Isaac,  Peter,  Jr.,  and  John, 
and  several  daughters,  were  residents  of  Macoupin  county  in  1828. 

Huriah  Smith  settled  in  Western  Mound  in  the  fall  of  1828.  His  father, 
Richard  Smith,  and  family,  settled  on  Hodges'  creek  about  that  time,  as  did 
also  Andrew  Brownlee,  who  was  one  of  the  first  justices  of  the  peace. 

William  and  Elizabeth  (Sims)  Nevins  came  to  Macoupin  county  from  Tennes- 
see in  1828,  and  settled  in  North  Palmyra  township,  where  they  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  their  days.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  among  them  be- 
ing James  Nevins,  who  came  to  the  county  with  them.  James  Nevins  became 
one  of  the  prosperous  and  influential  farmers  of  this  section,  owning  at  one  time 
over  a  thousand  acres  of  land  in  Macoupin  and  Montgomery  counties. 

Jacob  Nifong  was  a  southerner  by  birth,  who  married  Letcy  Sims,  a  native 
of  Tennessee.  After  their  marriage  in  1825,  they  removed  to  Illinois  and  settled 
on  section  7,  North  Palmyra  township,  in  the  year  1828.  Here  Jacob  Nifong 
died  February  2,  1844.  His  widow  afterward  married  James  Patton,  and  died 
in  1856. 

Edmund  C.  Vancil,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  moved  to  Sangamon  county  in 
1827  and  in  1828  settled  in  North  Palmyra  township.  He  put  up  the  first  horse 
mill  in  the  north  part  of  the  county  and  also  the  first  distillery.  He  possessed 
remarkable  mechanical  genius,  manufactured  his  own  boots  and  shoes,  built  his 
own  wagons,  constructed  a  superior  flat  boat  and  invented  an  excellent  plow  for 
breaking  purposes.  At  the  time  he  erected  his  dwelling  in  1848  it  was  considered 
the  finest  farm  residence  in  the  county.  In  1852  he  erected  a  steam  sawmill. 
His  son,  Imri  B.  Vancil,  was  born  in  Union  county,  Illinois,  in  1825,  and  was 
raised  in  North  Palmyra  township.  He  became  one  of  the  largest  landowners 
in  the  county. 

John  S.  Greathouse,  one  of  the  pioneer  lawyers  of  Macoupin  county  bar  was 
a  citizen  of  the  village  of  Carlinville  before  the  fall  of  1829,  as  the  records  show 
he  had  purchased  property  of  Joseph  Borough  in  the  fall  of  that  year.  He  re- 
mained in  Carlinville  until  1846. 

G.  M.  McGinnis  settled  in  Bird  township  in  1829,  also  James  Howard,  who 
taught  school  that  year  in  a  log  house  in  North  Palmyra. 

Samuel  Harris,  the  father  of  twenty-six  children,  was  also  a  settler  here  in 
1829,  as  were  also  Norris  Hayes,  a  farmer;  Jairus  Coddle,  a  farmer  of  North 
Carolina;  James  McFarland,  a  farmer  of  Tennessee;  Aaron  Tilley,  brother  of 
Bennett  Tilley ;  and  William  Barrett,  who  sold  goods  in  the  first  store  in  the 
county  in  1829. 

James  Bristow,  a  Virginian,  came  to  Macoupin  county  from  Tennessee  in 
1829,  and  settled  on  land  which  afterward  was  included  in  Scottville  township. 
He  brought  with  him  his  wife  and  four  children.  After  purchasing  the  land  from 
the  government,  he  erected  a  log  cabin,  in  which  no  nails  were  used  and  the  door 
was  hung  on  wooden  hinges.  It  also  had  a  wooden  latch  with  the  traditional  latch 
string  which  hung  outside  in  those  early  days.  The  cabin  was  furnished  with 
the  traditional  puncheon  floor. 


STATE   STREET,   PALMYKA 


MAINE  STREET,   PALMYRA 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UX!V"S!TY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  97 

Robert  Ross  removed  from  Tennessee  to  Illinois  in  1829,  and  for  a  while 
lived  in  Morgan  county.  He  came  to  Macoupin  county  shortly  after  and  bought 
a  "squatter's"  claim  to  a  tract  of  land  in  South  Palmyra  township. 

John  Gray,  Thomas  and  Daniel  Marfoot  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sherrill  came  to 
the  county  in  1829. 

Ezekiel  Good,  who  was  said  to  have  had  enough  character  to  mold  a  whole 
community,  moved  to  Macoupin  county  from  Greene  county  in  the  '203  and  built 
a  log  house  just  east  of  the  old  plat  of  Carlinville.  He  acquired  considerable 
property  and  died  a  comparatively  young  man.  A  number  of  representatives  of 
the  family  are  still  living  in  the  county. 

John  and  Cynthia  (Seymour)  Love  emigrated  from  Alabama  to  Illinois  in 
early  days.  They  first  located  in  Madison  county,  remaining  there  but  a  few 
months,  when  they  came  to  Macoupin  county  as  early  as  before  the  '205  but  at 
just  what  date  cannot  be  determined.  They  made  their  home  in  what  is  now 
South  Palmyra  township  but  about  the  year  1828  removed  to  Morgan  county. 
These  worthy  pioneers  were  parents  of  Samuel  Love,  who  was  born  in  South 
Palmyra  township  in  the  year  1822  and  is  given  the  distinction  of  being  the  first 
white  child  born  in  Macoupin  county. 

James  and  Rhoda  (Regan)  Husky,  natives  of  Tennessee,  were  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Bird  township,  where  they  lived  until  their  death.  They  were 
parents  of  thirteen  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Easley  was  one.  This  lady 
became  the  wife  of  Isaac  N.  Edwards  in  Bird  township,  October  4,  1838.  Mr. 
Edwards  died  in  December,  1860,  and  in  1866  his  widow  married  George  W. 
Easley,  who  passed  away  in  1872. 

In  1830,  among  others,  came  James  Simmons,  Arter  Taylor,  Mrs.  Daniel 
Huddleston,  Thomas  Kinder,  Abraham  S.  Walker  and  family,  among  whom  was 
Hon.  C.  A.  Walker;  James  B.  Pinkard,  Michael  Brown,  William  Palmer,  Brice 
Robertson,  Susan  Adams,  Benjamin  Adams,  Mrs.  Permelia  Baird,  David  Holmes 
and  wife,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Foster,  Jarrett  Dugger,  J.  A.  Pepperdine,  John  Mc- 
Collum  and  parents,  Giles  M.  Adams  and  parents,  John  Andrews,  E.  B.  Clark, 
David  Gimlin,  a  Baptist  minister;  and  many  others. 

Newton  Berry  settled  in  the  county  in  1831  and  was  one  of  the  first  teachers. 
Among  other  settlers  this  year  may  be  mentioned  D.  B.  Sawyer,  J.  L.  Plain, 
William  McKinney,  James  B.  Gray,  Stith  M.  Otwell,  a  minister  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church,  John  Gelder,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Edwards,  Mrs.  Job  Sperry, 
William  Phillips,  John,  Josiah,  Jesse,  Henry  and  C.  C.  Rhoads,  Peter  B.  Karnes, 
Samuel  Howard,  John  Kinder,  the  Huddlestons,  Stephen  Sawyer,  Amos  Snock, 
Rev.  Levi  Mitchell,  a  Baptist  clergyman,  the  Weatherfords  and  Gimlins. 

Dr.  Gideon  Blackburn,  the  founder  of  Blackburn  University,  arrived  in  the 
county  in  1832 ;  ako  L.  P.  Stratton,  William  H.  Carson,  Richard  Skaggs,  Thomas 
Leach,  Colonel  J.  R.-  Miles,  William  Jolty,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Duckies,  F.  M. 
Adams,  J.  D.  Wagner,  Daniel  Huddleston,  Hampton  W.  Wall,  William  Hilyard. 

John  Morris,  G.  B.  Carson,  William  Chism,  James  M.  and  Mrs.  W.  H.  Car- 
son, Thomas  E.  Carson.  Captain  James  P.  Pearson,  who  married  Rebecca  Gwin, 
a  settler  with  her  father's  family  in  1831;  W.  H.  Rhoads,  Mrs.  Nancy  Challa- 
combe,  Thomas  Leach,  James  Raffurty  and  the  Bostons,  all  came  in  1832. 

Vol.  l—t 


V 

98  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Elsewhere  in  this  volume  mention  is  made  of  the  arrival  of  many  of  Macoupin 
county's  pioneers  who  may  be  considered  the  first  settlers.  This  chapter  is  de- 
voted to  many  who  took  up  their  residence  in  the  county  in  the  '305. 

Absalom  Kent,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  a  pioneer  of  Ohio,  came  to  Illi- 
nois about  the  year  1830  and  settling  in  Macoupin  county,  bought  land  west  of 
Carlinville.  He  was  successful  in  the  conduct  of  his  affairs,  eventually  buying 
large  tracts  of  land  in  different  parts  of  the  county.  Absalom  was  the  grand- 
father of  Perrin  Kent,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Macoupin  county,  who  came 
with  his  parents  in  1840,  settling  in  Virden  township. 

William  C.  Anderson  was  a  son  of  William  D.  and  Elizabeth  (Hancock)  An- 
derson, and  was  born  in  Carlinville,  August  26,  1830.  He  eventually  settled  on 
section  9,  Shaw's  Point  township. 

Thomas  Wood,  of  Virginia,  was  a  settler  in  Macoupin  county  as  early  as 
1830.  He  settled  in  Bunker  Hill  township.  He  was  one  of  the  first  of  three 
school  trustees  of  this  township  and  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  division  of 
the  county. 

Joseph  England  moved  from  Virginia  to  Tennessee  and  from  the  latter  state 
to  Illinois  in  1830,  stopping  in  Macoupin  county  for  a  time.  With  him  was  his 
wife  and  ten  children.  Mr.  English  bought  a  squatter's  claim  from  the  govern- 
ment in  the  vicinity  of  what  is  now  known  as  North  Otter  township. 

Samuel  Bruce,  a  native  of  the  Emerald  isle,  sailed  from  Belfast  with  his  wife 
and  several  children,  in  1830.  Landing  in  New  York,  they  came  overland  by 
team  to  Macoupin  county,  settling  in  Staunton  township,  near  the  village  of  that 
name,  which  then  consisted  of  one  store  and  a  few  houses. 

Joseph  Andrews  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  and  married  Susan  Ellis. 
When  their  son  John  was  in  his  third  year  the  family  moved  to  Todd  county, 
Kentucky,  and  lived  there  until  1830,  when  they  emigrated  to  Illinois,  settling  on 
the  northeast  corner  of  section  6.  Brighton  township.  Here  Joseph  Andrews  en- 
tered nine  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  a  part  of  it  in  Jersey  county.  John 
Andrews,  in  1837,  married  Martha  A.  Miles,  a  daughter  of  Alexander  Miles. 

William  T.  and  Clementina  Duncan  were  both  natives  of  Kentucky.  Follow- 
ing the  year  of  their  marriage,  in  1830,  they  came  to  Macoupin  county  and  set- 
tled in  Palmyra  township.  He  had  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk  war. 
His  son,  James  S.  Duncan,  was  one  of  the  early  coroners  of  the  county.  William 
T.  Duncan  died  in  1861  and  his  wife  survived  him  a  number  of  years. 

Joseph  and  Abigail  Holmes,  natives  of  Virginia,  he  a  soldier  of  the  war  of 
1812,  emigrated  to  Indiana  in  1828  and  thence  to  Illinois  in  1830,  when  he  settled 
in  Carlinville.  That  year  he  built  a  cabin  on  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the 
county  jail.  Carlinville  then  contained  five  families.  He  died  in  Indiana  in  1834. 
His  wife's  death  occurred  in  1837.  One  of  the  sons,  David  Holmes,  settled  in 
Western  Mound  township  in  1837  and  there  married  Elizabeth  Hubbard,  daugh- 
ter of  Joel  Hubbard,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Macoupin  county. 

Elijah  and  Jane  (Moore)  Mitchell  came  to  this  county  in  the  spring  of  1831. 
settling  in  Brushy  Mound  township.  He  entered  eighty  acres  of  government  land 
on  section  24,  on  which  was  a  cabin  that  had  been  abandoned  by  a  squatter.  This 
cabin  he  shortly  afterward  tore  down  and  built  another,  which  was  eventually 
superseded  by  a  frame  house,  where  the  pioneer  lived  until  August  17,  1877, 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  99 

when  his  death  occurred.  Elijah  Mitchell  was  twice  married  and  was  the  father 
of  twenty-one  children,  eighteen  of  whom  were  reared.  Among  them  were  Mil- 
lie, Levi,  Martha  A.,  Elizabeth.  Travis,  Lucy  and  Sally  (twins),  Jane,  William 
T.,  Phoebe  and  Elijah.  William  T.  was  born  in  Brushy  Mound  township,  August 
25,  1838.  Travis  M.  Mitchell  was  born  in  Macoupin  county,  February  13,  1833,  in 
his  father's  log  cabin  on  section  24,  in  Brushy  Mound  township. 

David  Plain  was  born  in  Frederick  county,  Maryland,  and  became  a  settler 
of  Macoupin  county  in  the  spring  of  1831,  taking  up  his  residence  in  Shaw's  Point 
township,  where  he  at  once  selected  a  good  tract  of  land.  He  cift  poles  and  put 
the  ends  in  the  ground,  letting  the  tops  come  together  and  covered  them  with 
boards  rived  by  hand  and  thus  made  a  temporary  shelter,  which  with  his  family 
he  occupied  while  he  erected  a  hewed  log  house.  He  devoted  his  time  principally 
to  farming  and  lived  in  Shaw's  Point  township  until  his  death  in  1873.  He  left 
a  family  of  ten  children. 

Robert  and  Martha  (Proffitt)  Scott  arrived  in  Macoupin  county  from  Indiana 
in  1831.  Their  daughter  Mary  married  Thomas  Anderson  in  Indiana  and  came 
with  her  husband  and  child,  William  Anderson,  to  Macoupin  county  in  1834,  set- 
tling in  what  is  now  Honey  Point  township,  where  both  died  in  middle  life,  Mrs. 
Anderson  in  1838  and  her  husband  in  1843. 

Samuel  Hays  was  a  settler  in  Macoupin  county  as  early  as  1831,  locating  in 
South  Otter  township  after  his  marriage  to  Rebecca  Bond.  In  1848  he  moved  to 
North  Otter  township,  where  his  wife  died  in  1887. 

Robert  and  Eliza  W.  Moore,  natives  of  Kentucky,  settled  in  Carlinville  town- 
ship in  1831.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  of  whom  Thomas  G.,  the 
sixth  in  order  of  birth,  was  born  in  Carlinville  township  in  1838. 

Henry  Rhoads  came  to  Macoupin  county  from  Grayson  county,  Kentucky, 
in  1831  and  settled  in  Chesterfield  township.  His  wife  died  in  1835  and  he  fol- 
lowed her  in  1854. 

John  Gelder,  with  his  family,  emigrated  to  America  from  England  in  1831, 
and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Chesterfield  township.  He  built  a  log  cabin,  which  at  the 
time  of  its  construction  was  the  largest  building  of  its  kind  in  the  county,  with 
the  exception  of  the  court  house.  He  died  in  1851  and  his  wife  Elizabeth  died  in 
1847.  Mr.  Gelder  assisted  in  organizing  the  Episcopal  church  at  Chesterfield 
and  was  one  of  its  wardens  until  he  died.  Captain  S.  Gelder  was  a  son  and  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  the  county. 

Daniel  B.  Sawyer  emigrated  to  Illinois  from  North  Carolina  in  1831  and  came 
directly  to  Dorchester  township,  this  county,  where  he  assisted  his  brother-in-law 
in  building  a  log  cabin.  He  married  Minerva  Scroggins  in  1834. 

John  M.  Hilyard.  a  native  of  Cable  county,  Virginia,  born  January  30,  1798, 
was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Macoupin  county,  locating  in  Hilyard  township 
in  1831.  where  he  entered  eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  22.  His  father  had 
moved  to  Gillespie  township  three  or  four  years  previously.  When  the  Hilyards 
settled  in  township  8,  range  8.  there  were  only  two  other  families  living  in  the 
township,  John  M.  Hilyard,  his  father-in-law,  James  P.  Gray  and  Erred  Maxwell. 

John  R.  Cundall  was  a  native  of  Leeds,  England,  as  was  also  his  wife.  He 
came  to  America  in  1832,  settling  in  Chesterfield  township,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming. 


100  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Alexander  Miles  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina.  He  was  married  in  Ten- 
nessee to  Mary  Irvin,  who  was  a  native  of  Georgia,  and  with  his  wife  and  family 
settled  in  Macoupin  county  in  1832,  becoming  pioneers  of  Brighton  township, 
where  they  lived  and  died.  They  were  the  parents  of  Colonel  J.  R.  Miles,  who 
was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1820  and  came  to  this  county  with  his  parents.  Col- 
onel Miles  built  the  first  mill  in  the  section  of  the  county  where  he  lived,  and 
in  October,  1867,  founded  the  town  of  Miles  Station,  and  it  was  largely  through 
his  influence  that  the  Chicago  &  Alton  railroad  was  built  through  the  place.  He 
became  a  man  of  large  means  and  as  a  soldier  deserved  great  credit.  At  the 
beginning  of  the  Civil  war  he  formed  a  company,  which  on  the  Qth  of  August, 
1861,  was  organized  as  Company  F  of  the  Twenty-seventh  Illinois  Infantry, 
which  saw  much  service  under  his  captaincy.  In  1862  he  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  colonel  and  participated  in  many  important  battles.  Colonel  Miles  mar- 
ried Eliza  A.  Stratton,  a  native  of  Kentucky. 

Samuel  B.  Clark,  a  native  of  Virginia,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  eight 
children,  came  to  Illinois  in  1828.  They  first  located  near  Edwardsville,  where 
they  resided  until  1832.  That  year  they  moved  to  a  farm  one  and  a  half  miles 
west  of  Brighton,  which  Mr.  Clark  rented  for  one  year.  He  then  bought  a  tract 
of  wild  land  in  the  same  locality  and  built  a  hewed  log  cabin,  splitting  shakes  for 
the  roof.  In  1835  he  sold  that  and  removed  to  a  farm  near  Carlinville,  on  which 
he  lived  one  year,  and  in  1836  settled  in  Brushy  Mound  township.  He  lived  in 
this  township  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1840.  His  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Elizabeth  Floyd,  survived  him  but  one  year. 

James  Wheeler  was  a  Kentuckian,  who  married  Catherine  Harland,  also  a 
Kentuckian.  In  the  fall  of  1832,  accompanied  by  his  wife,  three  children  and 
five  of  his  wife's  brothers  and  sisters,  Mr.  Wheeler  journeyed  with  teams  to 
Illinois  and  located  in  Macoupin  county,  settling  on  land  which  his  father-in- 
law  had  purchased  for  him  in  Gillespie  township.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
this  locality.  Where  the  town  of  Bunker  Hill  now  stands  there  was  but  one 
building  and  that  was  a  log  cabin.  Deer,  wolves,  wild  turkeys  and  sand  hill 
cranes  were  plentiful.  The  family  moved  into  a  log  house  that  stood  on  the  place. 
Mr.  Wheeler  bought  government  land  near  his  home  and  was  a  resident  of  Gil- 
lespie township  until  his  death. 

Selick  B.  Sawyer  was  born  in  Carroll  county,  North  Carolina,  in  1821.  He 
came  with  his  parents,  Valentine  and  Polly  (Spence)  Sawyer,  to  Macoupin 
county  in  1832.  A  location  was  made  by  the  family  in  the  southern  part  of  the' 
county  at  what  is  now  West  Prairie,  near  Williams  creek. 

Daniel  Huddleston.  a  native  of  Ohio,  settled  in  Gillespie  township  in  1832. 
His  death  occurred  in  1865.  He  built  a  home  on  section  3.  His  wife  was  Rachel 
Huddleston,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Juda  Huddleston,  natives  of  Virginia 
and  Kentucky,  respectively.  William  and  Juda  Huddleston  settled  on  govern- 
ment land  in  Gillespie  township  in  1830. 

Samuel  Wood  came  to  Macoupin  county  with  a  double  yoke  of  oxen  and 
was  thirty-four  days  upon  the  road,  moving  from  Kentucky  to  Bunker  Hill. 
He  entered  a  farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Bunker  Hill  township 
in  1832,  living  there  for  over  a  half  century. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  101 

James  E.  Wood  died  in  1891.  He  arrived  in  Bunker  Hill  township,  June 
16,  1832,  and  became  one  of  its  most  prosperous  residents. 

David  B.  Boston  was  a  Virginian  by  birth.  He  removed  from  Indiana  in 
1832  to  Macoupin  county,  settling  on  section  n,  Nilwoocl  township,  where  he 
entered  eighty  acres  of  land.  His  death  occurred  in  1853.  In  his  family  were 
five  boys  and  five  girls,  of  whom  David  B.  was  the  fourth  son. 

Jasper  Rice  came  to  Macoupin  county  in  1832,  settling  in  North  Palmyra 
township.  In  1833  he  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Stephen  Jones,  who  was  a 
settler  in  Palmyra  township  as  early  as  1831. 

David  Henderson  came  from  the  Old  Dominion  in  the  fall  of  1832  and  set- 
tled on  section  30,  Barr  township.  His  uncle,  John  Henderson,  settled  on  sec- 
tion 20  at  the  same  time.  These  were  the  first  two  settlements  made  in  the  south- 
west part  of  Barr  township.  J.  W.  Henderson,  a  son,  was  two  years  old  at  the 
time  the  family  arrived  here. 

Thomas  Jones  emigrated  to  this  country  with  his  wife  and  family  from  Eng- 
land, in  1831,  and  settled  in  Dutchess  county.  New  York,  where  they  resided 
until  the  spring  of  1833.  That  year  found  them  in  Brighton,  where  eventually  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  government  land  was  secured  and  de- 
veloped. He  became  prosperous  and  raised  a  large  family  of  children. 

Ferdinand  Taggart  was  born  April  6,  1812,  in  Shelby  county,  Kentucky.  At 
.the  age  of  eighteen  he  removed  to  Carrollton,  Greene  county,  and  there  remained 
three  years,  learning  the  trade  of  brick  making.  He  then  came  to  Carlinville 
and  opened  a  brickyard  for  the  gentleman  under  whom  he  had  learned  his  trade. 
This  was  in  1833,  when  Carlinville  had  a  population  of  20x3  and  the  buildings 
were  mostly  of  logs,  with  mud  and  stick  chimneys.  There  was  not  a  brick  build- 
ing in  the  town  and  but  one  brick  chimney.  In  1835  he  opened  a  brickyard  for 
himself.  He  became  a  contractor  and  one  of  his  first  contracts  was  for  the  brick 
work  on  the  court  house,  which  was  built  in  1837.  Mr.  Taggart  eventually  en- 
gaged in  merchandising  in  company  with  A.  S.  Walker  and  William  Phelps. 
This  firm  also  carried  on  a  branch  store  at  Taylorville.  The  last  wife  of  Mr. 
Taggart  was  a  sister  of  Hon.  Charles  A.  Walker  of  Carlinville. 

John  G.  Chiles,  a  native  of  Virginia,  married  Elizabeth  F.  Wills,  of  the  same 
state.  The  family  removed  to  Kentucky,  whence  they  came  to  Macoupin  county 
in  1833,  settling  on  the  line  between  North  and  South  Palmyra.  In  1845  tnev 
took  up  their  residence  in  Bird  township. 

L.  P.  Stratton  was  born  in  New  Hampshire  in  1808  and  learned  the  trade  of  a 
carpenter.  In  1833  he  came  to  Brown's  prairie  and  entered  forty  acres  of  land 
a  mile  west  of  Brighton. 

William  Jones  came  to  Macoupin  county  in  1833.  He  was  a  native  of  Wales 
and  his  birth  occurred  in  1817.  He  finally  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  in  Brighton  township. 

Joshua  Peek  was  a'  native  of  Virginia,  who  removed  to  Kentucky  and  there 
married  Eliza  Scott,  a  native  of  Ireland.  In  1833  tne  Peeks  settled  in  Palmyra 
township  and  there  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land.  Mr.  Peek  died 
in  1851  and  his  wife  in  1847. 

Alexander  McKim  Dubois  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  in  1812,  and 
came  to  Carlinville  on  the  4th  day  of  July,  1834.  That  year  he  opened  a  general 


102  HISTORY  OF  MACOUP1N  COUNTY 

store  on  the  east  side  of  the  public  square.  He  sold  the  store  in  1836  and  the 
following  year  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace.  In  1841  he  was  appointed  clerk 
of  the  circuit  court  and  in  1848  at  the  first  election  he  became  his  own  successor. 
Judge  David  Davis  appointed  him  trustee  of  Blackburn  College  in  1855  and  at 
the  meeting  of  the  board  following  he  was  made  treasurer.  In  1866  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  county  court  one  of  the  commissioners  for  the  building  of  the 
Macoupin  county  court  house  and  was  made  financial  agent  of  the  county  for 
the  sale  of  its  bonds. 

Solomon  Steidley  and  wife,  Rachel  (Barr)  Steidley,  came  from  Frederick 
county,  Virginia,  to  Macoupin  county,  in  1834,  and  settled  in  Barr  township, 
where  they  lived  until  their  death.  Mr.  Steidley  passed  away  in  1848  and  his 
wife  followed  him  eight  years  later.  Frederic  Steidley,  a  son,  came  with  his 
parents  in  1834,  at  which  time  there  were  nine  children  in  the  family. 

Colonel  James  Anderson,  a  Virginian,  first  came  to  Macoupin  county  from 
Kentucky,  in  June,  1834,  when  he  entered  a  tract  of  land  on  section  u,  Carlin- 
ville  township.  He  then  went  back  to  Kentucky  for  his  family.  On  the  I2th 
of  the  following  October  with  his  wife  and  six  children  he  returned,  bringing 
along  a  pair  of  oxen  and  wagon,  two  horses  and  a  carriage.  During  the  winter 
of  that  year  he  lived  in  a  rented  log  house  and  in  the  meantime  built  a  log  cabin 
on  his  own  land,  riving  boards  for  the  roof  and  splitting  puncheons  for  the 
floor.  In  the  spring  of  1835  the  new  home  was  occupied  and  the  land  opened 
for  cultivation.  He  became  an  extensive  trader  in  live  stock,  and  prospered. 
His  death  occurred  in  1851  from  an  attack  of  cholera.  Thirteen  days  thereafter 
his  wife  followed  him,  from  the  same  disease.  To  Colonel  Anderson  and  his 
wife  were  born  seven  children,  Crittenden,  H.  C,  Uriah  C.,  Erasmus  S.,  Augustus 
E.,  Malcolm  M.,  Henry  C.  and  Mary  A.  Crittenden.  H.  C.  Anderson  was  the 
founder  of  the  C.  H.  C.  Anderson  banking  house  and  died  one  of  the  wealthiest 
men  of  the  county. 

Thomas  Arnett  was  born  in  North  Carolina  in  1804  and  became  a  pioneer 
of  Tennessee.  He  removed  from  the  latter  state  in  1829  to  Illinois,  settling  in 
Morgan  county,  from  which  locality  he  came  to  Macoupin  county  in  1834,  set- 
tling in  what  is  now  Bird  township.  On  the  farm  that  he  developed  he  spent  his 
remaining  days.  His  death  occurred  in  1876. 

Benjamin  Wheeler  and  wife  came  from  Ohio  in  the  fall  of  1834  and  settled 
in  Bird  township.  His  son,  John  Wheeler,  was  a  member  of  the  party  and  even- 
tually became  one  of  the  prosperous  and  prominent  citizens  of  Macoupin  county, 
at  one  time  possessing  over  a  thousand  acres  of  land. 

Dudley  Saunders  came  from  Kentucky  in  1834  on  horseback  and  settled  in 
Honey  Point  township,  where  he  bought  a  tract  of  land  on  which  was  a  log  cabin. 
This  farm  he  sold  at  an  advance  of  two  hundred  dollars  and  bought  another  tract 
in  Brushy  Mound  township,  constituting  one  hundred  acres.  After  two  years 
he  sold  this  land  and  bought  on  section  2,  Honey  Point  township.  In  1838  he  was 
married  to  Elizabeth  Huddleston,  of  Kentucky,  who  died  in  1876.  By  this  union 
there  were  ten  children. 

Peter  Wagner,  a  native  of  Virginia,  arrived  in  this  county  in  1834,  when  his 
son,  Jacob  D.,  was  twenty  years  of  age.  With  his  wife  and  other  children  he 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  103 

settled  on  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  which  was  situated  not  far  from 
Prairie  View.  Here  he  and  his  wife  passed  their  remaining  days. 

Robert  R.  Tompkins,  whose  life  ended  in  1871,  came  to  Macoupin  county 
from  Virginia  in  1834,  when  a  young  man. 

Amos  Avery  Hilyard,  a  pioneer  of  the  county,  died  in  1878.  He  was  a  native 
of  New  Hampshire.  He  came  west  in  1832  and  in  1834  purchased  a  farm  on  sec- 
tion 17  of  the  present  Brighton  township,  on  which  he  resided  until  his  death. 

Edmund  Lee  Woodrough,  a  native  of  Virginia,  settled  in  Macoupin  county 
near  where  the  town  of  Gillespie  now  stands,  in  1834.  In  1858  he"  was  killed  by 
the  kick  of  a  horse. 

Thomas  H.  Stratton,  whose  birth  place  was  in  Tennessee,  came  from  his  na- 
tive state  to  Illinois  in  1834,  settling  in  Shipman  township.  He  worked  on  a  farm 
for  some  time  and  then  bought  land,  which  he  cultivated  with  success. 

Thomas  Dews,  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England,  emigrated  to  America  in  1829. 
In  1834  he  made  a  trip  to  Illinois  and  in  that  year  settled  in  Macoupin  county 
upon  eighty  acres  of  land  which  he  entered  from  the  government  in  Western 
Mound  township,  taking  up  his  permanent  residence  thereon  in  1837.  That  year 
he  was  married  to  Sylvia  Morris  of  this  county  and  raised  a  family  of  six 
children. 

Samuel  V.  Rhoads  was  born  in  Hardin  county,  Kentucky,  in  1791.  He  was  a 
soldier  of  the  war  of  1812  and  one  of  the  Kentucky  volunteers  under  General 
Harrison,  which  took  part  in  the  battle  of  the  Thames,  when  Tecumseh,  the  In- 
dian chief,  was  killed.  In  1834  he  removed  from  Grayson  county,  Kentucky,  and 
settled  in  Chesterfield  township,  about  a  mile  from  Rhoads  Point,  now  known  as 
Medora.  About  this  time  he  began  preaching  and  was  instrumental  in  organiz- 
ing several  United  Baptist  churches  in  this  part  of  Illinois,  most  of  the  churches 
of  that  denomination  in  Macoupin  county  having  in  fact  been  founded  by  him 
and  his  brother,  the  Rev.  Jacob  Rhoads.  He  died  in  1877.  Charles  Rhoads,  a 
son,  married  Nancy  Cawood,  whose  father,  Joshua  B.  Cawood,  settled  in  North 
Palmyra  township  in  1838.  He  moved  to  Shipman  township,  south  of  Medora, 
and  in  1845  to  Hilyard  township,  where  his  death  occurred  the  same  fall. 

Thomas  M.  Metcalf  was  a  Kentuckian,  his  birth  occurring  on  the  loth  of 
November,  1828.  He  came  to  Macoupin  county  with  his  father,  William  Met- 
calf, Jr.,  in  the  spring  of  1835,  settling  in  Western  Mound  township.  There  his 
father  engaged  in  cultivating  the  soil  until  1858,  when  he  removed  to  Girard  town- 
ship. Later,  in  1874,  he  took  up  his  residence  on  section  i  in  South  Otter  town- 
ship. Thomas  M.  Metcalf  was  elected  county  treasurer  in  1869  and  reelected  in 

1873- 

James  A.  McClure,  a  native  of  Virginia,  came  to  Macoupin  county  from 
Kentucky  in  1835  and  settled  on  section  36  in  Carlinville  township,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  1844,  when  he  was  appointed  to  a  position  in  the  land  de- 
partment at  Washington  by  President  James  K.  Polk.  He  was  reappointed  by 
President  Taylor  and  died -in  1849,  while  in  office. 

Daniel  Blodget,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  settled  in  Brighton  township 
in  1835.  becoming  one  of  its  most  successful  merchants.  He  here  married  Ellen 
Jones,  a  native  of  England,  whose  parents  were  early  settlers  of  Brighton  town- 
ship. After  her  death,  Mr.  Blodget  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Rev.  Simon 


104  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Peter,  who  located  in  Madison  county  in  1829  and  became  a  circuit  rider.  Mr. 
Blodget  died  November  27,  1889. 

Joel  York  removed  from  Tennessee  with  his  family  to  Morgan  county  in 
1828  and  from  there  to  Macoupin  county  in  1835,  at  which  time  he  entered  land 
near  Carlinville.  He  died  in  1847  upon  a  farm  a  mile  farther  east.  His  wife 
died  two  months  later. 

Haskins  Trabue,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  seven  children,  came  to  Macou- 
pin county  from  Kentucky  in  1835,  settling  in  what  is  now  Brushy  Mound  town- 
ship, where  he  entered  a  tract  of  government  land.  Here  he  erected  a  small  log 
house.  In  1837  Mr.  Trabue  built  a  carding  mill,  the  first  concern  of  the  kind 
in  the  county.  He  also  farmed.  His  death  occurred  in  1860,  and  his  wife, 
Olympia  (Wilson)  Trabue,  also  died  the  same  year. 

Peter  Denby,  Sr.,  came  from  Liverpool,  England,  in  1834,  and  first  located  in 
Morgan  county,  Illinois,  where  he  rented  land.  In  1835  he  visited  South  Palmyra 
township  and  entered  government  land  on  section  36,  which  was  one  of  the  finest 
tracts  of  the  county.  He  lived  here  until  his  death,  which  occurred  December  3, 
1862.  His  wife  had  preceded  him  in  1847. 

Joel  and  Miriam  (Haycroft)  Parker  came  from  Kentucky  in  1835,  settling  in 
Shipman  township,  where  he  died  November  28,  1843.  His  widow  became  the 
.wife  of  Oliver  C.  Forwood.  Benjamin  E.  Parker,  a  son,  was  born  in  Shipman 
township,  October  9,  1839,  where  he  grew  to  manhood. 

Henry  Solomon  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  North  Carolina,  and  came  with 
his  father,  Lewis  Solomon,  to  Morgan  county  in  1825.  In  1835  Henry  sold  his 
property  in  Morgan  county  and  with  the  proceeds  bought  government  land  in 
South  Palmyra  township,  this  county,  where  he  erected  a  log  house.  With  the 
exception  of  one  year  he  continued  to  occupy  his  farm  until  death  closed  his  ca- 
reer at  the  ripe  old  age  of  seventy-six.  He  was  twice  married,  the  third  child  of 
his  first  wife  being  Rebecca  Jane.  She  was  the  mother  of  Ariel  M.  Solomon, 
who  was  but  four  years  of  age  when  his  father  came  to  Illinois.  Ariel  continued 
an  inmate  of  his  father's  home  until  he  was  twenty-four  years  old.  When  he 
was  seventeen  his  father  gave  him  fifty  dollars  and  told  him  to  do  whatever  he 
liked  with  it.  The  enterprising  youth  wisely  invested  it  in  forty  acres  of  gov- 
ernment land  in  South  Palmyra  township.  Two  years  later  his  father  gave 
him  another  fifty  dollars,  which  he  judiciously  invested  in  forty  acres  in  Barr 
township,  adjoining  his  first  entry.  He  never  located  on  the  land  but  eventually 
sold  it  at  $5.25  per  acre.  He  then  bought  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  in  Barr 
township  and  took  up  his  residence  there.  In  the  fall  of  1888  he  removed  to 
Palmyra. 

Randall  Clark  at  the  age  of  twenty  arrived  in  Macoupin  county  from  his  na- 
tive state,  South  Carolina,  in  1835.  He  finally  settled  on  a  farm  on  section  20, 
Gillespie  township,  where  he  lived  many  years. 

John  and  Emily  A.  Lumpkin  settled  in  Macoupin  county  in  1835.  Mr.  Lump- 
kin  purchased  a  tract  of  wild  land  on  time  and  located  in  Bird  township,  where 
he  erected  a  log  house,  riving  the  boards  to  cover  the  roof,  which  was  held  in 
place  by  means  of  poles.  The  floor  and  door  were  made  of  split  puncheons. 
Here  James  W.  Lumpkin,  who  was  for  many  years  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
Macoupin  County  Enquirer,  was  born  November  15,  1836. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  105 

James  P.  Pearson  located  in  Macoupin  county  in  1835.  He  was  a  native  of 
England.  After  his  arrival  he  married  Tabitha  Gwin,  a  daughter  of  Elias  and 
Tabitha  (Weather ford)  Gwin,  natives  of  South  Carolina. and  Kentucky,  respect- 
ively. After  the  death  of  his  wife,  Mr.  Gwin,  with  a  family  of  ten  sons  and 
daughters,  left  Tennessee  and  in  1830  settled  in  Macoupin  county. 

Isaac  B.  Johnston  was  born  in  Kentucky  and  came  to  Macoupin  county  about 
the  year  1835  from  Madison  county,  this  state,  where  he  had  previously  resided 
for  a  short  time.  He  settled  in  North  Palmyra  township,  where  in  1843  ne 
married  Elizabeth  Berry. 

Joseph  King  was  born  in  Todd  county,  Kentucky,  and  after  his  marriage 
came  to  Illinois  with  his  wife  and  two  children,  in  1835.  He  settled  in  Macoupin 
county,  where  for  a  time  he  rented  land  and  then  entered  forty  acres  of  timber 
and  brush  land  on  section  32,  North  Palmyra  township,  on  which  he  built  a  log 
cabin. 

William  Metcalf,  Jr.,  was  a  Kentuckian  ami  arrived  in  Macoupin  county  on 
the  22d  of  April,  1835.  He  entered  a  quarter  section  of  land  in  Barr  township, 
also  a  part  of  a  quarter  section  in  Western  Mound  township.  On  the  latter  tract 
was  a  log  house,  which  he  and  his  family  occupied. 

George  Wagner,  a  native  of  Maryland,  arrived  in  Macoupin  county  in  1835, 
when  his  son,  James  E.  Wagner,  was  but  five  years  of  age.  He  settled  in 
Brighton  township. 

Moses  Smith  was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  He  married  Parmelia  Aiken,  a  na- 
tive of  North  Carolina.  After  his  marriage  ne  came  to  Macoupin  county  from 
Tennessee  in  1835,  settling  in  North  Palmyra  township,  where  they  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  lives.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children. 

His  acquaintance  with  John  Cavender,  John  Tilden  and  others,  who  had 
bought  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Bunker  Hill,  was  the  means  of  bringing  Moses 
True  to  Macoupin  county.  He  traveled  from  the  east  in  an  ordinary  covered 
wagon  and  on  Christmas  day  of  1835  arrived  at  the  spot  which  is  now  the  town 
site  of  Bunker  Hill,  then  a  wild  prairie,  inhabited  by  wolves.  In  January,  1836, 
he  brought  from  St.  Louis  a  wagon  load  of  groceries  and  dry  goods  and  opened 
the  first  store  in  Bunker  Hill.  His  cabin  on  the  west  side  of  Washington  street 
wa«  the  first  hotel  in' the  town. 

William  Duckies,  a  native  of  England,  arrived  in  the  United  States  in  1834, 
and  in  the  month  of  February,  1835,  settled  in  Macoupin  county  on  section  14, 
Chesterfield  township. 

Andrew  Jackson  Rose  came  with  his  parents,  Enos  and  Rachel  (Stout)  Rose, 
from  New  Jersey,  in  1835.  The  family  settled  on  forty  acres  in  section  21,  Gil- 
lespie  township. 

Arter  Taylor,  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1835  and  in 
the  spring  of  that  year-settled  in  Gillespie  township,  where  his  sister  Nancy,  wife 
of  Giles  M.  Adams,  was  then  living.  He  married  Sarah  Ann  Rose  in  1836. 

Howard  Clark  and  his  wife,  Eliza  J.,  with  their  children,  removed  to  Illinois 
from  Kentucky  in  1831  and  settled  in  Macoupin  county,  two  and  a  half  miles 
west  of  Brighton,  in  1835.  He  passed  the  last  years  of  his  life  in  Brighton, 
where  he  died  in  1866.  His  wife  had  preceded  him  in  1858. 


106  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Beatty  T.  Burke  was  a  native  of  Jefferson  county,  Virginia,  and  was  born  in 
1806.  He  arrived  in  Macoupin  county  in  1836  and  purchased  the  grocery  store 
of  Jefferson  Weatherford,  at  Carlinville.  In  1837  he  became  major  of  militia 
and  was  always  designated  by  that  title.  He  was  elected  sheriff  in  1838  and  held 
the  office  twelve  years.  In  1852  he  was  elected  to  the  state  legislature  and  was 
defeated  for  the  senate  in  1854  by  John  M.  Palmer.  He  was  returned  to  the 
legislature  in  1856,  and  in  1871  became  senator,  which  office  he  held  four  years. 
He  represented  Carlinville  on  the  first  board  of  supervisors  and  held  the  office 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1876.  Major  Burke  took  first  rank  as  one  of 
the  county's  able  and  most  trustworthy  men. 

Charles  Holliday  was  a  Methodist  preacher  of  his  day.  He  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  came  to  Macoupin  county  from  Kentucky  in  1836,  at  which 
time  he  entered  land  in  Chesterfield  township,  where  he  acquired  considerable 
property.  While  on  his  way  to  conference  at  Quincy,  Illinois,  in  the  fall  of  1849, 
he  was  taken  sick,  and  never  recovered.  He  died  the  following  year. 

Henry  Etter,  Sr.,  was  a  native  of  Tennessee  and  came  from,  that  state  to  Il- 
linois in  1826,  first  locating  in  Greene  county.  In  1836  he  disposed  of  his  posses- 
sions there  and  settled  in  Macoupin  county,  buying  a  tract  of  land  in  Western 
Mound  township.  A  log  cabin  stood  on  the  place  and  a  few  acres  of  land  had 
been  tilled.  In  a  short  time  he  erected  good  frame  buildings  and  had  a  valuable 
farm,  upon  which  he  spent  his  days  in  prosperity  and  contentment,  departing  this 
life  in  1853. 

John  Keller,  a  native  of  Maryland,  removed  to  Kentucky  with  his  parents  and 
there  married.  He  found  his  way  to  Macoupin  county  in  1836  and  became  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  Chesterfield  township,  where  he  entered  a  tract  of  land.  He 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  the  village  of  Chesterfield. 

Joshua  Ragan  was  a  Virginian  but  went  to  Tennessee  when  a  young  man  and 
was  there  married.  In  1831  he  removed  to  Missouri,  where  he  lived  until  his  re- 
moval to  Illinois  in  1836.  In  June  of  that  year  he  came  to  Macoupin  county  and 
bought  a  claim  in  what  is  now  Bird  township. 

Joseph  B.  Steidley  was  born  in  the  Old  Dominion,  near  Fredericksburg.  In 
1836  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  wife  and  six  children  and  bought  a  tract  of  land 
four  miles  from  the  present  site  of  the  village  of  Palmyra.  On  this  land  was  a 
log  house,  in  which  Samuel  R.  Steidley  was  born,  March  25,  1838.  Joseph  B. 
Steidley  died  in  1861,  his  first  wife  having  preceded  him  in  1849. 

George  Caldwell,  a  native  of  Ireland,  came  from  Philadelphia  with  his  family 
to  Macoupin  county  in  1836,  and  located  on  land  in  Staunton  township.  His 
death  occurred  at  the  home  of  his  son  Henry  J.  Caldwell,  July  6,  1887,  when  he 
was  eighty-five  years  of  age. 

Solomon  and  Elizabeth  Groves  were  natives  of  Kentucky.  They  came  to 
Macoupin  county  in  the  spring  of  1836  and  took  up  their  residence  in  the  then 
sparsely  settled  village  of  Carlinville,  where  Mr.  Groves  worked  at  his  trade  of 
carpentry. 

Nathan  D.  Barber,  who  died  in  1878,  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire  and 
came  to  Alton,  Illinois,  in  1836.  In  the  winter  of  that  year  he  removed  to  a  farm 
a  mile  and  a  half  north  of  Brighton,  where  he  made  his  home  until  his  death.  In 
1841  he  married  Emeline  Moore,  daughter  of  Captain  James  and  Arethusa  Moore, 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  107 

who  settled  a  mile  north  of  Brighton,  in  the  fall  of  1837.  Mr.  Barber's  wife  died 
in  1879. 

Thomas  Jefferson  McReynolds  was  born  in  Kentucky-  in  1803,  and  came  to 
Illinois  in  1832.  The  year  1836  found  him  in  Macoupin  county,  where  he  en- 
tered the  south  half  of  section  31  in  Honey  Point  township  and  also  a  tract  in 
Brushy  Mound  township.  On  the  latter  tract  of  land  he  lived  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1869. 

Robert  Meatyard's  birth  place  was  in  Dorcestershire,  England.  He  came  to 
the  United  States  in  the  fall  of  1835  and  in  the  spring  of  1836  settled  in  Shipman 
township,  Macoupin  county,  where  he  entered  land  and  commenced  farming.  The 
town  of  Piasa  was  afterward  laid  out  and  built  upon  a  portion  of  the  land  origi- 
nally entered  by  him. 

Samuel  Trible  emigrated  from  England  to  this  country  in  1836.  He  came  di- 
rect to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Shipman  township. 

J.  W.  Gilson,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  married  Miss  M.  Merrewether,  a  na- 
tive of  Louisville,  Kentucky.  In  1836,  with  his  wife,  he  settled  in  Macoupin 
county,  near  Brighton,  where  he  engaged  in  general  merchandising,  real  estate 
and  stock-raising.  Mr.  Gilson  died  in  1864  and  his  wife  in  1873. 

Francis  G.  Brown  came  to  Macoupin  county  in  1837  from  West  Virginia  and 
entered  a  tract  of  land  on  section  23,  in  what  is  now  Western  Mound  township. 
Having  removed  to  Tennessee,  he  brought  his  family  from  that  state  in  1838  to 
their  new  home,  the  journey  being  made  on  a  flat  boat  on  the  waters  of  the  Hoi- 
ton,  Tennessee,  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers  to  within  fifty  miles  of  Paducah, 
Kentucky,  thence  by  steamer  to  Alton  and  from  there  by  team  to  their  destina- 
tion. Mr.  Brown  rented  a  log  house  on  section  4,  Bird  township,  in  which  the 
family  lived  until  November.  In  1851  he  sold  his  farm  and  removed  to  Chester- 
field, where  he  engaged  in  merchandising  and  kept  a  hotel.  He  died  in  1878  at  a 
ripe  old  age.  His  wife  Mary  preceded  him  in  death  in  July,  1864. 

Achilles  Tongate,  a  native  of  Virginia,  after  having  lived  in  Kentucky  and  Mis- 
souri, removed  to  Illinois  in  1836.  After  spending  a  year  in  Morgan  county  he 
located  near  Palmyra  with  his  wjfe  and  children.  He  was  a  good  farmer  and  was 
amply  rewarded  for  his  industry  and  frugality.  He  reached  the  venerable  age  of 
ninety-three  before  answering  the  last  call,  surviving  his  wife  but  a  few  years. 

Joseph  and  Candace  Penn,  both  natives  of  North  Carolina,  arrived  in  Ma- 
coupin county  in  1837  and  settled  in  Shaw's  Point  township,  where  Mr.  Penn  died 
in  1840.  His  wife  survived  him  seventeen  years. 

Joseph  Montgomery  came  to  Macoupin  county  from  West  Virginia  in  1837 
and  settled  on  a  farm  which  he  purchased  near  Scottville. 

Lewis  L.  O'Neal,  with  his  young  bride,  Elizabeth  (Cram)  O'Neal,  came  to 
Macoupin  county  from  Morgan  county  in  1837,  and  in  the  spring  of  that  year 
settled  in  North  Palmyra  township,  on  section  34,  where  Mr.  O'Neal  died  in 
1854. 

Samuel  Welton  came  from  Connecticut  in  1837  and  settled  on  a  tract  of  land 
six  miles  from  Carlinville. 

Hugh  Caldwell  came  to  the  United  States  from  Derry,  Ireland,  in  1837. 
After  a  short  stay  in  Philadelphia,  he  continued  his  journey  west  and  settled  in 
Staunton  township,  where  his  brother  George  had  previously  taken  up  a  claim. 


108  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

He  began  improving  a  tract  of  land  and  his  house  at  that  time  was  the  only  one 
between  Staunton  and  Silver  Creek. 

John  A.  Pettingill  was  born  in  New  Hampshire.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  the 
fall  of  1837,  when  twenty  years  of  age.  After  visiting  Bunker  Hill,  he  went  to 
Peoria  and  clerked  in  his  brother's  store  until  the  spring  of  1839,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Bunker  Hill  and  began  improving  a  farm  one  mile  north  of  the  village 
— the  first  farm  ever  opened  on  the  prairie  north  of  the  town. 

Jackson  Sisson,  of  Culpeper  county,  Virginia,  arrived  in  Macoupin  county 
in  1837.  In  November  of  that  year  he  settled  on  a  farm  on  which  was  after- 
ward built  the  principal  part  of  the  town  of  Gillespie. 

Taylor  G.  Chase  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire  and  in  1837  journeyed 
from  that  state  by  wagon  to  Macoupin  county.  He  had  previously,  in  1833, 
entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  18  of  the  present  Brighton 
township.  In  1837  he  brought  with  him  his  family  and  lived  in  a  rented  cabin 
on  land  on  section  20,  until  the  fall  of  1839,  when  he  settled  on  a  quarter  section 
he  had  entered. 

Richard  Bacon,  a  native  of  England,  arrived  in  this  country  in  1835  and  in 
the  fall  of  1837  settled  in  Carlinville.  Shortly  thereafter,  he  moved  with  his  fam- 
ily to  the  Dr.  Blackburn  farm  near  Carlinville  and  lived  there  one  year.  He  then 
moved  to  Chesterfield  township  and  died  there  in  1839.  In  the  spring  of  1840, 
Mary  K.  Bacon,  his  wife,  entered  forty  acres  of  land  on  section  19,  South  Otter 
township,  where  she  lived  for  some  years. 

Joseph  Listen  came  to  Macoupin  county  from  Marion  county,  Kentucky,  set- 
tling near  Eagle's  Point,  in  North  Palmyra  township,  where  he  remained  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  January  31,  1877.  Joseph  B.  Listen,  a  son,  was  born 
in  Macoupin  county,  August  19,  1838.  In  1866  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  the 
county  and  fulfilled  the  duties  of  his  office  faithfully  and  well.  He  was  a  demo- 
crat, casting  his  first  vote  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in  1860. 

Gottlob  Rumbolz  was  a  native  of  Stuttgart,  Germany.  He  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1838  and  entered  land  in  Bunker  Hill  township. 

Henry  F.  Martin  became  a  resident  of  Brighton  township,  Macoupin  county, 
in  1838.  He  was  a  native  of  Rhode  Island.  His  father  died  about  1836  and  the 
mother  married  Samuel  Avis,  who  owned  land  in  Brighton  township,  which  was 
the  occasion  of  Mr.  Martin  settling  in  Macoupin  county. 

Joseph  Loomis,  the  father  of  Thaddeus  L.  William  and  Horace  J.  Loomis, 
came  to  Illinois  with  his  family  in  1838,  settling  on  section  i,  Chesterfield  town- 
ship, where  he  engaged  in  farming  quite  extensively.  He  was  the  first  man  in 
the  county  to  engage  in  the  dairy  business  and  made  large  quantities  of  cheese. 
He  was  mainly  instrumental  in  founding  the  Chesterfield  cemetery  in  1848.  He 
died  in  1850. 

Sargeant  Gobble  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1811.  He  arrived  in  the  vicinity 
of  Carrollton  in  1832,  where  he  married  Amelia  Johnson.  In  the  fall  of  1838 
he  settled  in  Scottville,  which  had  been  laid  out  three  years  previously.  In  1844 
and  1864  he  was  elected  to  the  legislature  from  this  district. 

Edward  H.  Davis  came  to  Macoupin  county  in  1839  and  settled  in  Bunker 
Hill  township.  In  1840  he  married  Jane  H.  Cavender,  daughter  of  Charles 
Cavender,  who  settled  on  an  unbroken  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  just 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  109 

west  of  Bunker  Hill  in  1838.     Here  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  at 
the  age  of  eighty-three  years. 

Peter  Edwards,  a  Virginian,  removed  from  his  native  state  to  Kentucky  and 
resided  there  until  1825,  when  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Morgan  county. 
In  1839  he  came  to  Macoupin  county,  entering  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Scottville 
township,  where  he  resided  until  his  death  in  1847. 

John  Maze,  a  native  of  Tennessee,  married  Sarah  Morrow,  also  a  native  of 
that  state,  and  they  emigrated  to  Greene  county  in  the  early  '305.  Shortly  after- 
ward they  removed  to  Barr  township  in  Macoupin  county.  Mr.  Maze's  death 
occurred  some  time  after  his  removal  here,  while  on  a  business  trip  to  Kentucky. 
His  daughter,  Martha,  married  William  J.  Bates,  a  native  of  Tennessee,  who  was 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Macoupin  county.  Mr.  Bates'  death  occurred  September 
16.  1890. 

Henry  J.  Ferguson,  a  native  of  Ireland,  arri.vecl  in  this  country  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1839.  Striking  west  from  Philadelphia,  he  continued  across  the  country 
until  he  arrived  at  Staunton,  Macoupin  county,  which  was  then  a  small  hamlet. 
Here  he  purchased  a  partially  improved  farm  of  forty  acres  and  eventually  be- 
came prosperous.  He  died  in  1883  at  the  age  of  eighty  years. 

Horatio  Adams  emigrated  from  Kentucky  to  Illinois  in  1828,  and  after  a  resi- 
dence in  Clay  and  Greene  counties  of  some  five  or  six  years,  came  to  Macoupin 
county,  settling  in  Bird  township.  Here  he  continued  to  live  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1874. 

Martin  Dickerman,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  was  born  in  1816  and  came  to 
Macoupin  county  with  his  widowed  mother  and  six  other  children,  when  a  young 
man. 

John 'England  and  wife  Linnie  came  from  Tennessee  to  Macoupin  county  in 
the  '305,  having  spent  a  year  previous  in  Morgan  county.  They  settled  in  North 
Otter  township,  where  they  lived  until  their  death. 

Samuel  Smalley,  of  New  Jersey,  settled  in  Bunker  Hill  township  in  the  '305, 
when  the  city  of  that  name  was  a  mere  hamlet.  Here  he  and  his  wife  both  died 
at  an  advanced  age.  On  this  farm  their  children  and  grandchildren  were  born, 
among  the  latter  being.  James  H.  Smalley,  whose  birth  occurred  in  1840. 

Richard  Wall  was  in  Macoupin  county  before  1832.  This  is  apparent  from 
the  records,  as  his  son,  Hampton  W.  Wall,  was  born  on  West  prairie  in  Dor- 
chester township,  November  10,  1832.  The  latter,  when  four  years  of  age,  went 
to  live  with  his  maternal  grandfather  Telemachus  Camp,  who  was  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  of  Staunton  township. 

Elijah  Mills,  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1829  and 
settled  in  Morgan  county.  Some  time  in  the  early  '305  he  came  to  Macoupin 
county  and  entered,  land  on  section  6,  South  Palmyra  township.  After  several 
changes  he  removed  to  Missouri  and  died  there  in  1869. 

Samuel  T.  Mayo  can  hardly  be  placed  in  the  category  of  those  who  settled  in 
Macoupin  county  in  the  '305.  He  did  not  locate  here  until  in  1843,  but  in  1835 
spent  a  short  time  at  a  hotel  of  which  Samuel  Keller  was  the  host.  Mr.  Mayo 
had  stopped  over  in  Carlinville  to  relieve  the  tedium  of  a  horse-back  journey  from 
Carrollton  back  to  his  old  home  in  Albermarle  county,  Virginia,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1841,  at  which  time  he  returned  to  Carrollton  and  entered  the  em- 


110  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

ploy  of  a  merchant.  While  on  his  way  there  the  coach,  in  which  he  was  riding, 
stopped  at  a  point  in  Jersey  county  to  let  off  a  lady  passenger,  and  it  was  there 
Mr.  Mayo  met  Elizabeth  Palmer,  his  future  wife. 

In  1843  S.  T.  Mayo  formed  a  partnership  with  the  mercantile  firm  of  Wright 
&  Lynn  of  Carrollton  and  took  charge  of  a  branch  of  the  concern,  which  he  es- 
tablished here  in  1843,  in  the  building  now  occupied  by  the  Sonneman  shoe  con- 
cern, on  the  east  side  of  the  public  square.  Taking  into  the  store  with  him 
Nicholas  (Nick)  Boice,  business  increased  from  day  to  day  and  Mr.  Mayo  and 
those  associated  with  him  prospered.  His  biography,  written  by  Professor  [.  D. 
Conley,  from  which  these  excerpts  are  made,  speaks  of  him  in  a  kindly  and  rever- 
ential spirit  voicing  the  opinion  of  its  author  and  the  estimate  of  those  who 
knew  him  well  in  that  Mr.  Mayo  was  an  upright,  honest  man,  and  true  as  steel 
to  friends  and  principles.  His  reputation  for  honesty  and  faithfulness  reached 
the  superlative  degree  and  these  characteristics  of  the  man  were  given  generous 
recognition  by  the  many  who  placed  the  administration  of  their  estates  within 
his  keeping.  He  retired  from  active  business  pursuits  in  1857  and  enjoyed  the 
income  from  a  competency  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  eighty-eighth 
anniversary  of  his  birth,  November  24,  1906. 

General  John  I.  Rinaker  is  authority  for  the  story  that  upon  a  certain  occasion 
a  great,  strapping  big  fellow  entered  Mr.  Mayo's  store.  The  man  was  noted  for 
his  physical  strength  and  prowess  at  wrestling  and  boasted  before  "Uncle  Sam" 
of  what  he  was  capable  of  doing.  This  did  not  strike  Mayo's  fancy  and  grabbing 
the  man  he  threw  him  sprawling  upon  the  counter,  very  much  to  the  surprise  and 
evident  satisfaction  of  all  who  saw  the  test  of  strength  and  agility  of  the  unassum- 
ing storekeeper.  This  incident  goes  a  long  way  in  proving  the  assertion  that  S.  T. 
Mayo  was  entitled  to  being  credited  with  a  goodly  stock  of  courage.  When  he 
accompanied  John  M.  Palmer  on  one  of  his  campaigning  tours,  he  fully  expected 
to  get  into  trouble.  It  was  in  the  '505,  and  William  T.  Harris  was  running  for 
congress.  Palmer  was  billed  to  speak  in  opposition  to  Harris'  election  at  Plain- 
view.  Harris  was  noted  for  his  hotheadedness  and  the  Plainview  meeting  was 
looked  forward  to  with  no  little  anxiety  by  the  opposition.  In  part,  as  a  means 
of  protection  to  the  speaker  in  case  of  trouble,  B.  T.  Burke,  James  Fishback, 
James  (or  John)  McWain,  and  Sam  T.  Mayo  accompanied  Palmer  to  the  place 
of  anticipated  hostilities.  There  had  been  threats  thrown  out  by  Harris'  partisans, 
but  Palmer  was  fearless  and  amply  able  to  care  for  himself  and  the  fears  of  his 
henchmen  were  not  realized.  Mr.  Mayo's  birthplace  was  in  Albermarle  county, 
Virginia,  and  he  knew  Thomas  Jefferson,  philosopher  and  "Sage  of  Monticello," 
who  lived  in  the  same  county. 


CHAPTER  VI. 
MEMORY'S  STORE  HOUSE. 

RECOLLECTIONS   OF    A    PIONEER HON.    CHARLES   A.    WALKER   HERE   IN    1828,   THREE 

YEARS  BEFORE  THE  COUNTY  WAS  ORGANIZED HE  WAS  ACQUAINTED  WITH   MANY 

OF   THE    PIONEERS    OF    MACOUPIN REMINISCENCES    ENTERTAININGLY    RELATED. 

The  present  generation  cannot  have  a  very  definite  idea  of  the  grandeur  and 
beauty  of  Illinois  at  the  time  of  coming  into  the  state  of  the  first  pioneers.  My 
first  recollection  of  life  finds  me  in  a  new,  wild,  unsettled,  and  beautiful 
region.  I  rejoice  that  my  young  eyes  were  permitted  to  view  nature  before 
the  vandal  man  had  marred  its  beauty  and  destroyed  its  virgin  loveliness.  When 
my  father,  with  his  young  family,  landed  in  Macoupin  county  (1828),  the  for- 
ests were  fresh  and  unscarred  by  the  ax  of  the  coming  thousands.  The 
millions  of  acres  of  prairie  grass  were  waving  on  our  lovely  prairies.  The 
land  was  unplowed  and  no  barbed  wire  fence  destroyed  its  grand  appearance. 
It  was  a  beautiful  land,  looking  as  though  it  had  just  emerged  from  the  hands 
of  the  Builder  of  the  Universe.  The  pioneers,  where  are  they?  They  have 
performed  their  labors  on  this  earth,  and  we  feel  that  they  are  worthy  of  being 
enrolled  in  this  history. 

There  are  many  historical  monuments  in  our  county,  of  former  generations. 
When  my  father  moved  to  Carlinville,  he  found  on  what  is  now  Sunny  Home 
Stock  Farm,  in  asssisting  in  the  building  of  John  Harris'  water  mill,  two  smelt- 
ing crucibles,  which  induced  him  to  believe  that  there  were  lead  mines  some- 
where in  our  county.  So  much  did  the  early  inhabitants  of  the  county  believe 
that,  that  "little"  Johnny  Hull  concluded  to  sink  a  shaft  within  a  few  yards  of 
where  were  found  the  smelting  crucibles.  He  dug  down  one  hundred  and 
seventy-five  feet  and  found  nothing  except  natural  gas  which  drove  him  out 
of  the,  shaft. 

Another  place  of  interest  was  an  Indian  cemetery,  situated  eight  miles  south- 
west of  Carlinville,  near  what  was  then  known  as  the  Holliday  ford  of  Ma- 
coupin creek.  The  Indians  who  had  lived  here  buried  their  dead  by  sinking  a 
square  hole  about  three  feet  deep,  placing  lai*ge,  flat  rocks  in  the  bottom  and 
thin  slabs  of  rock  at  the  sides,  head  and  foot.  They  then  put  the  dead  body  in 
the  grave  in  a  sitting,  upright  position,  facing  the  east.  Then  they  placed  in 
the  tomb  all  the  valuables  that  the  Indian  possessed  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
except,  perhaps,  his  live  animals.  I  have,  on  many  an  occasion,  aided  in  the 
opening  of  those  tombs,  finding  the  Indian  bones  just  as  they  were  placed  by 

111 


112  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

those  who  buried  the  bodies.  I  still  possess  many  warlike  and  domestic  im- 
plements taken  from  these  Indian  graves. 

In  the  south  part  of  our  county  there  was  a  beautiful  mound  of  considerable 
dimensions,  perhaps  thirty  or  forty  feet  in  height  above  the  level  of  the  prairie. 
There  ran  at  the  east  edge  of  that  mound  a  beautiful  specimen  of  a  mountain 
stream;  clear,  pure  water,  that  did  not  dry  up  during  the  summer.  This  place 
was  a  great  resort,  not  only  for  Indians,  but  for  wild  animals  that  roamed  the 
forests  and  prairies  at  that  time,  especially  wolves  that  denned  on  the  mound 
and  brought  forth  their  young  in  great  numbers.  From  that  fact  it  took  its 
name.  "Wolf  Mound,"  and  on  Wolf  Mound  stands  today  the  beautiful  town  of 
Bunker  Hill. 

Coop's  Mound,  eight  miles  east  of  Carlinville,  was  another  noted  place,  as 
it  rose  in  height  to  about  forty  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  adjoin- 
ing land.  It  was  covered  by  a  magnificent  forest,  one  tree  of  which  became  so 
noted  that  persons  would  travel  several  miles  to  examine  it.  It  was  a  large, 
branching  elm,  and  many  and  many  a  time  have  George  Holliday  and  myself 
visited  it  to  enjoy  its  magnificent  shade  and  beauty.  Along  the  west  side 
of  the  mound  ran  the  old  Indian  trail,  from  the  head  waters  of  the  Wabash 
river  to  Cahokia,  which  was  then  the  Indian  trading  post  for  all  of  the  Illini 
tribe  of  Indians,  who  formerly  resided  in  the  territory  that  finally  became  the 
state  of  Illinois. 

At  one  time,  after  my  father  had  moved  to  Carlinville  and  erected  his  cabin, 
there  came  following  that  trail  down  the  Macoupin  creek,  twelve  Indian  "bucks," 
wearing  their  war  garb,  and  were  painted,  as  they  painted  themselves  when  going 
to  war.  They  came  to  my  father's  cabin  where  my  mother  was  with  her  small 
children,  and  as  the  pioneers  in  that  day  feared  the  Indians  more  than  they  did 
the  wild  beasts  of  the  wilderness,  of  course  she  was  greatly  frightened,  as  were 
the  other  pioneer  women  and  children  of  the  town.  The  men,  also,  felt  as 
though  it  became  their  duty  to  notify  all  the  pioneers  within  reach  of  them,  of 
the  Indians  being  in  that  neighborhood. 

I  had  forgotten  to  say  that  at  Wolf  Mound  there  was  a  large  spring  of  pure, 
cold  water,  that  I  presume  still  gives  forth  that  beverage  to  the  thirsty  Bunker 
Hillites. 

There  were  many  other  noted  places  of  interest  to  the  early  pioneers  of  our 
county  that  space  will  not  permit  me  to  name.  In  regard  to  our  early  hotels, 
the  first  one  that  I  remember  was  a  log  cabin  just  across  the  street  from  Walker 
&  Woods'  law  office,  in  the  old  Dubois  building — on  the  corner  where  Meyer's 
music  store  is  located.  This  hostelry  was  kept  by  Lev.  English,  who  had  a  fam- 
ily of  boys  that  were  never  backward  in  any  of  the  little  broils  coming  up 
among  the  pioneers.  One  of  them  especially,  High  English,  was  a  rough  speci- 
men of  the  backwoodsman.  I  remember  on  one  occasion  there  was  to  be  a 
puppet  show  in  the  hotel  that  I  attended.  And  it  being  the  first  place  of  the 
kind  that  I  had  ever  visited  or  heard  of,  I  was  greatly  amused  by  the  move- 
ments of  the  little  men  and  women  and  animals  that  were  made  to  act  by  wires, 
under  control  of  the  operator  who  was  hidden  from  view. 

The  most  noted  hotel  keeper  of  those  early  days  was  a  man  from  New 
Jersey — Robert  Hankins.  He  kept  not  only  the  City  Hotel,  but  a  number 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH,  STAUNTON 


PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  PALMYRA 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS  - 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  113 

of  others  for  many  years  during  his  life  in  Carlinville,  and  died  regarded  by  the 
citizens  of  the  county  as  one  of  the  best  landlords  that  ever  engaged  in  the  hotel 
business  in  the  city.  There  were  many  other  noted  hotel  keepers  during  the  days 
of  stage  stands,  and  one  of  them  was  Dan  Anderson,  a  Yankee,  who  kept  the 
Green  Tree  Hotel.  It  was  located  in  the  south  part  of  the  village  and  was  a 
stage  stand  for  many  years.  A  part  of  that  old  frame  building  yet  remains  on 
the  lot  where  it  was  erected. 

There  has  been  but  one  judicial  hanging  in  our  county.  Aaron  Todd 
was  hung  on  the  2d  day  of  June,  1840,  for  the  killing  of  his  cousin,  Larkin 
Scott.  As  the  details  of  that  murder,  trial  and  hanging,  is  given  in  another 
place  in  this  history,  I  refer  to  that  for  information  in  regard  thereto. 

During  the  fall  of  1831  it  commenced  snowing  in  December  and  continued 
up  to  about  the  middle  of  March,  1832,  covering  the  ground  with  from  four  to 
five  feet  of  snow  on  a  level.  So  great  was  the  depth  of  the  snow  that  very  few 
of  the  wild  animals,  or  feathered  tribe,  escaped,  but  starved  to  death  for  the 
want  of  food.  Deer  were  killed  by  the  pioneers,  supposedly  for  food.  They 
could  not  move  with  any  speed,  unless  they  were  in  a  beaten  path.  Up  to  that 
time  there  had  been  thousands  and  thousands  of  wild  turkeys  in  the  forests  of 
our  state  which  perished  during  that  deep  snow,  and,  since  then  that  grand  bird 
has  been  very,  very  scarce  in  Macoupin  county. 

During  the  early  '305  there  resided  in  Carlinville  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Holton,  who  had  a  wife  that  had  a  voice  she  used  on  all  occasions.  My  father 
lived  just  across  the  street  from  Helton's.  One  night  during  the  fall  of  1833 
everybody  in  town  was  awakened  by  the  loud  prayers  of  Mrs.  Holton,  in  which 
she  beseeched  the  Lord  to  forgive  her  all  her  sins  (and  she  had  many),  and 
shouting  that  the  world  was  coming  to  an  end.  I  was  but  a  small  boy  at  that 
time  but  being  awakened  by  my  father  (or  mother),  I  got  up,  went  to  the  door 
and  saw  the  grandest  sight  that  was  ever  viewed  by  mankind  in  this  world.  It 
so  impressed  itself  upon  my  memory  that  at  this  moment,  in  my  mind's  eye, 
I  can  see  the  heavens  and  the  earth  lit  up  by  the  falling  or  shooting  of  meteors, 
or  stars,  as  we  called  them  at  that  day.  They  created  a  light  which  was  brighter 
than  that  ever  made  by  the  sun  on  a  clear  day  and  lasted  for  about  four 'hours. 
The  heavens  were  being  bombarded,  seemingly,  by  great  streams  of  fire,  follow- 
ing the  shooting  stars,  and  the  sky,  in  all  parts,  was  literally  covered  with  those 
shooting  meteors.  There  was  no  space  in  the  heavens  that  was  not  being  filled 
by  what  looked  like  great  streams  of  fire,  that  followed  the  rapidly  moving  me- 
teor. They  were  moving  in  all  directions '  and  seemingly,  to  the  onlooker, 
would  come  in  contact  with  each  other.  We  were  awakened  about  two  o'clock 
in  the  morning  and  of  course,  there  was  no  more  sleep  that  night  for  any  one 
who  had  witnessed  that  wonderful  panorama  in  the  heavens. 

During  the  first  part  of  January,  1836,  we  had  been  having  a  very  warm, 
open  spell  of  weather.  During  the  morning  the  sun  shone  bright  and  clear,  with- 
out any  indication  that  a  storm  was  brewing.  So  pleasant  was  the  morning  that 
many  of  the  pioneers  who  lived  in  the  country  came  into  town  on  business,  and 
among  them  was  Colonel  William  C.  Anderson.  The  colonel  lived  four  miles 
northeast  of  our  town  and  when  coming  to  town  would  always  ride  a  bay,  bald- 
faeed  pony.  He  was  a  large,  strong  healthy  man  and  usually  upon 


114  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

visiting  the  county  seat  would  remain  until  the  middle  of  the  afternoon 
or  later.  About  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  a  cloud  came  up  that  was  not 
apparently,  dangerous ;  but  it  rapidly  grew  black  and  threatening.  The  air  then 
commenced  turning  cold  and  it  commenced  raining  and  continued  until  the 
streams  and  low  places  were  filled  with  water.  Colonel  Anderson  was  fixing  to 
start  home.  His  road  would  be  over  an  open  prairie.  His  friends  in  the  village 
tried  to  persuade  him  not  to  venture  on  his  journey  until  the  storm  passed  away, 
but  he  refused  to  listen  to  their  solicitations  and  started  for  his  home.  It  grew 
so  rapidly  cold  that  within  less  than  one-half  hour  the  streams  and  prairies, 
which  had  been  filled  with  water,  froze  over,  and  a  heavy  sleet  was  falling.  .  Col- 
onel Anderson  had  not  proceeded  more  than  a  mile  from  the  village  until  his 
road  was  obliterated,  he  found  his  pony  refusing  to  go  in  the  face  of  the  wind 
and  discovered  that  he  was  lost  on  the  prairie.  He  became  chilled  and  at  one 
time,  before  the  darkness  set  in,  had  discussed  in  his  own  mind  whether  or  not 
he  had  better  get  off  his  pony,  cut  its  throat,  open  its  body  and  crawl  in  to  keep 
himself  from  freezing.  But  finally,  he  came  across  a  place  in  the  prairie  that 
he  thought  he  recognized,  and  taking  new  courage,  rode  less  than  a  hundred 
yards  toward  where  he  thought  his  house  was  located  and  in  a  few  minutes  saw 
a  light  that  he  knew  was  shining  from  his  home.  He  rode  up  to  the  gate,  tried 
to  dismount,  but  utterly  failed  to  do  so,  as  he  was  tightly  frozen  to  the  saddle. 
As  best  he  could  he  called  for  help.  Some  of  the  family  came  out,  helped  him 
off  the  horse  and  into  the  house,  where  he  found  that  his  feet  had  been  frozen 
and  that  he  was  very  nearly  chilled  to  death.  He  recovered  from  the  injury  and 
died  during  the  cholera  epidemic  in  our  county  in  1851. 

Another  excitement  that  occurred  in  Macoupin  county  was  that  of  the  kill- 
ing of  a  Mr.  Lockerman  by  Andrew  J.  Nash.  This  occurred  at  Zanesville  dur- 
ing the  early  '505.  .  Nash  escaped  and  kepf  himself  hidden  from  the  officers  for 
about  one  year,  when  he  was  arrested,  brought  back  and  placed  in  jail.  At  the 
first  term  of  court  following  he  was  indicted  for  murder,  and  placed  in  the  lower 
cell  of  the  old  log  jail,  to  await  his  sentence  after  having  been  convicted.  John 
M.  Palmer,  then  a  practicing  lawyer  of  our  county,  defended  him  and  being  a 
friend  of  Nash,  sought  every  means  within  his  skill  as  a  lawyer  and  an  influ- 
ential citizen  to  prevent  the  hanging.  Failing  to  get  a  new  trial,  Pahner  cir- 
culated petitions  asking  the  governor  to  reprieve  or  commute  Nash's  sentence, 
but  they  were  not  acted  upon  until  the  afternoon  of  the  day  before  he  was  to  be 
hung.  During  the  morning  of  the  day  that  he  was  to  mount  the  scaffold  a  mes- 
senger from  Springfield  landed  in'Carlinville  about  daylight,  bringing  a  reprieve 
to  Nash  reducing  his  sentence  to  imprisonment  in  the  penitentiary  for  life.  Xash 
was  a  vindictive,  bad-tempered  man,  who  had  declared  that  Lockerman's  broth- 
ers and  other  relatives  should  never  see  him  hung.  A  great  crowd  of  persons, 
not  only  from  this  county  but  from  the  surrounding  counties,  flocked  to  our 
town  to  see  the  hanging,  and  as  it  was  not  known  to  them  that  Nash's  sentence 
had  been  commuted,  when  informed  of  the  fact,  the  crowd  became  very  boister- 
ous and  threatening.  David  McDaniel  was  then  deputy  sheriff  and  jailer.  The 
citizens  of  the  town  became  excited  and  raised  a  body  of  about  sixty  men  to 
guard  the  jail  to  prevent  the  Lockermans  and  their  friends  from  breaking  in 
and  taking  Nash  out  and  hanging  him.  During  the  excitement  around  the  jail 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  115 

the  prisoner  had  torn  up  some  of  the  bedclothing  and  had  hung  himself  until  he 
was  dead,  but  this  was  not  known  to  anyone  while  the  excitement  was  going  on, 
nor  was  the  suicide  discovered  until  the  crowd  had  dispersed  from  the  town. 
On  opening  the  jail  door  Sheriff  McDaniel  on  looking  down  into  the  dungeon 
after  the  crowd  had  dispersed,  discovered  Nash  hanging  to  a  beam  of  the  upper 
floor  of  that  part  of  the  prison. 

These  items  would  not  be  complete  without  giving  the  history  of  some  of 
the  leading  men  and  women  that  were  living  in  and  organizing  the  county, 
which  occurred  in  1829.  The  greater  number  of  the  persons  to  whom  I  shall 
refer  had  emigrated  to  the  county,  were  pioneers  previous  to  that  time  and  aided 
in  its  organization.  Robert  Wallace,  with  a  large  family  of  boys  and  girls,  had 
'emigrated,  I  think,  from  Tennessee,  and  as  he  was  a  man  of  some  capital  that 
he  had  brought  with  him,  entered  the  land  on  which  the  northern  part  of  our 
city  is  located.  He  was  a  man  of  great  industry,  prudent  in  his  dealings,  and 
soon  accumulated  money  sufficient,  aside  from  that  which  he  had  brought  with 
him,  to  "enter  up"  many  acres  of  the  then  virgin  soil  surrounding  the  vil- 
lage. And  as  he  had  much  help  in  his  boys  Mr.  Wallace's  farming  interests 
were  pushed  and  from  that  source  he  accumulated  property  faster  than  did 
most  of  the  pioneers.  He  built  a  log  cabin  on  the  land  that  he  had  first  entered 
that  is  now  within  the  city  limits,  on  North  Broad  street,  where  John  Brown's 
residence  is  located.  Soon  after  Wallace's  coming,  T  think,  in  1829  or  1830, 
David  McDaniels,  a  young  man,  landed  here,  and  was  very  soon  on  social  terms 
with  the  Wallace  family,  and  within  a  short  time  married  the  eldest  daughter, 
Rebecca.  From  that  day  until  the  day  of  his  death,  which  occurred  some  time 
in  the  '705,  he  was  a  very  active,  energetic,  good  citizen,  and  reared  a  family  of 
boys  and  girls  that  have  taken  their  places  in  our  county  as  worthy  citizens  and 
who  greatly  aided  in  the  building  up  of  the  county  to  its  present  high  position. 
McDaniel  was  often  elected  to  positions  of  trust ;  was  deputy  sheriff  and  jailer 
during  the  terms  of  Sheriffs  John  Harris,  Jeff  Weatherforcl,  Beatty  T.  Burke, 
Sr.,  and  others.  He  was  also  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  acting  in  that  capac- 
ity for  more  than  thirty  years  and  giving  perfect  satisfaction  to  persons  who 
had  business  in  connection  with  that  office.  At  his  death  his  funeral  was  largely 
attended  and  the  death  of  no  man  who  ever  resided  in  our  county  was  more 
deeply  regretted. 

In  regard  to  Robert  Wallace,  one  of  his  occupations  was  the  raising  of  hogs. 
He  entered  many  acres  of  timber  land  south  of  our  city  in  the  Macoupin  bot- 
tom, and  as  there  were  always  a  great  amount  of  mast,  consisting  of  acorns, 
hickorynuts,  walnuts,  and  other  growths,  that  gave  food  for  the  wild  animals 
before  the  pioneers  had  taken  possession,  those  lands  afforded  an  abundance 
of  mast  and  Wallace,  taking  advantage  of  this  fact,  bought  all  the  hogs  that 
lie  could  find  in  the  •  county  and  turned  them  loose  in  that  bottom.  Of 
course  the  "porkers"  accumulated  very  fast  and  well  do  I  remember  of  often 
being  "treed"  by  them  on  hunting  and  fishing  trips  in  that  part  of  the  county 
when  I  had  taken  a  dog  with  me.  On  one  occasion  my  father  had  bought  up 
and  driven  to  Alton  a  bunch  of  fat  cattle,  and  I  had  gone  along  to  help  drive  them 
to  that  market.  My  father  had  secured  a  very  fine  bay  horse  for  me  to  ride, 
from  Mr.  Wallace.  After  selling  the  cattle  he  started  me  for  home  on  the  horse. 


116  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

It  was  during  the  fall  of  the  year  and  the  roads  were  good.  I  was  a  boy  anxious 
to  get  home  before  some  furious  (?)  wild  beast  or  robber  should  stop  me  on  the 
road.  That  is  what  I  thought  then.  There  were  not  very  many  wild  beasts  and 
but  few  robbers  that  would  stop  a  boy  at  that  early  day  for  the  purpose  of  rob- 
bing him.  I  started  from  middle  Alton  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  landed 
in  Carlinville,  thirty-five  miles  distant,  at  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  having 
made  the  trip  in  three  hours,  by  putting  the  horse  to  his  best  gait  when  on  level 
ground.  That  was  regarded  as  a  feat  that  only  a  thoroughbred  horse  could  ac- 
complish. 

Another  man  of  note  was  Major  P.  H.  Winchester,  who  came  here  with  his 
family  from  Edwardsville  during  the  year  1829  or  1830.  He  was  a  lawyer  of 
much  repute  at  that  time,  but  had  killed  a  man  in  Edwardsville,  tor  which  he 
was  acquitted  by  the  eloquence  of  Felix  Grundy,  the  celebrated  criminal  law- 
yer of  Tennessee.  The  Major  brought  with  him  a  family  of  intelligent  and  edu- 
cated persons,  who  took  high  rank  at  once  with  our  people.  Soon  after 
his  arrival  Major  Ben  Stevenson  came  to  Carlinville,  for  the  purpose  of 
settling,  bringing  with  him  some  of  his  family.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the 
affairs  of  the  pioneers  in  aiding  to  build  up  and  secure  immigration  into  the 
county.  Soon  after  Stevenson's  coming,  a  very  worthy  man,  Nicholas  Boice, 
came  to  our  village  and  opened  a  store.  He  was  here  but  a  few  months  when 
lie  married  the  eldest  daughter  of  Major  Winchester,  and  their  home  became 
the  mecca  of  all  the  social  gatherings  that  frequently  occurred  in  the  town.  The 
Winchester  and  Stevenson  families  were  always  regarded  and  esteemed  as  worthy 
and  .good  citizens. 

The  name  of  John  Harris  is  so  indelibly  fixed  as  a  benefactor  in  the  records 
of  our  county  that  no  lapse  of  memory  will  ever  cause  the  coming  generations  to 
forget  him.  He  came  here  and  discovered  that  those  who  had  preceded  him 
needed  a  mill  to  grind  the  grain  that  was  being  pounded  into  meal  in  Indian 
mortars,  and  at  once  (1830)  built  a  water  mill  on  the  Macoupin  creek,  one  and 
one  half  miles  east  of  Carlinville,  on  what  is  now  known  as  Sunny  Home  Stock 
Farm.  A  portion  of  the  logs  that  formed  the  dam  now  remain  on  the  rocks 
at  the  bottom  of  the  creek  where  it  was  built.  He  was  the  first  sheriff  of  the 
county,  was  state  senator  and  honorably  filled  those  and  other  positions  of  trust 
and  responsibility. 

Judge  Thomas  B.  Rice,  who  settled  at  what  was  afterwards  Icnown  as  Rice's 
Point,  in  the  western  part  of  the  county,  filled  satisfactorily  the  office  of  assist- 
ant county  judge  and  other  positions  of  trust,  and  died  leaving  a  family,  who  have 
followed  in  his  footsteps,  in  making  the  county  one  of  the  very  best  in  the  state. 

Joseph  Phelps  and  Sallie  Ainslee,  his  wife,  my  maternal  grandparents,  came 
to  the  county  in  1826,.  from  Tennessee.  They  settled  on  what  was  afterwards 
known  as  the  Phelps  Hill,  bringing  with  them  a  family  of  boys  and 
girls,  who  married  and  settled  in  and  near  Staunton.  Nathan  Phelps,  a  son, 
soon  after  his  majority,  became  well-to-do  and  left  quite  a  fortune  for  lhat  day 
to  be  distributed  between  his  parents  and  four  sisters,  namely :  Clarissa,  who 
married  Robert  Weeks ;  Cassie,  who  married  Robert  Page ;  Charlotte,  who 
married  Abram  Smith ;  and  my  mother,  who  had  married  Abram  S.  Walker. 
The  latter  couple  had  followed  the  Phelpses  to  the  new  country  in  the  year  1828, 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  117 

and  all  of  those  to  whom  I  here  refer,  except  my  mother  and  father,  now  lie 
buried  at  the  Phelps  cemetery,  three  miles  south  and  west  of  Staunton.  My 
mother  and  father  on  their  arrival  built  a  temporary  cabin  near  the  Phelps  Hill, 
remaining  there  until  the  spring  of  1830,  when  they  removed  to  Carlinville.  At 
that  time  there  were  but  two  dwelling  houses  (log  cabins)  in  the  young  village. 
They  reared  a  family  of  two  boys  and  two  girls :  Caroline,  who  married  William 
Phelps;  myself,  who  married  Permelia  A.  Dick;  Tennessee,  who  married  Fer- 
dinand Taggart ;  and  a  son,  James  L.,  who  died  in  August,  185!,  during  the 
epidemic  of  cholera,  in  his  twentieth  year.  All  except  my  wife,  Permelia  A., 
and  I,  have  passed  away,  and  lie  buried  in  the  Carlinville  cemetery. 

Telemachus  Camp  was  a  very  early  settler  in  our  county.  He  located  two 
miles  south  of  Staunton,  and  the  first  thing  that  he  did  was  to  plant  an  apple 
and  peach  orchard.  It  was  the  first  orchard  planted  on  what  afterwards  be- 
came the  soil  of  Macoupin  county.  Soon  after  my  father  arrived  in  the  new 
country  my  mother  took  me  on  a  visit  to  Mrs.  Camp,  the  wife  of  Telemachus 
Camp.  They  were  friends  in  Tennessee  before  moving  to  the  new  Eldorado. 
Of  course,  the  apple  orchard  was  the  attraction  to  me.  Peter  Camp,  a  son,  now 
owns  and  lives  on  the  old  farm.  He  is  a  worthy  son  of  a  worthy  father. 

Judge  Alva  Cloud,  a  resident  of  what  is  now  North  Otter  township,  was  an 
early  pioneer  and  was  frequently  elected  to  the  position  of  assistant  county 
judge  and  justice  of  the  peace.  He  died  without  blot  or  stain  on  his  name. 

Thomas  D.  Moore,  an  early  pioneer,  settled  on  a  farm  four  miles  east  of 
Carlinville.  He  reared  an  honorable  family,  the  members  of  which  have  done 
their  part  in  the  making  of  Macoupin  county  one  of  the  richest  of  the  state. 

Daniel  Anderson  was  "mine  host"  of  the  Green  Tree  "tavern"  in  Carlinville, 
it  being  the  stage  stand.  His  name  will  ever  remain  fresh  in  my  memory,  from 
the  fact  that  when  a  boy,  he  paid  my  way  into  the  first  circus  that  I  ever  at- 
tended. 

The  Weatherfords  emigrated  to  the  county  before  its  organization  and  soon 
became  leaders  in  politics  and  'the  bettering  of  the  condition  of  the  pioneers. 
Jeff  Weatherford  succeeded  John  Harris  as  sheriff  in  1834,  but  was  defeated  by 
lieatty  T.  Burke,  Sr.,1  for  that  office  in  1836,  Burke  having  been  deputy  under 
Weatherford  for  the  two  previous  years.  Harbird  Weatherford  was  the  work- 
ing man  of  all  the  Weatherfords  that  I  ever  knew.  He  erected  an  ox  mill  at  an 
early  day,  three  miles  southeast  of  Carlinville. 

The  Tennis  family,  John,  "Bill"  and  Alex  were  pioneers  and  were  worthy 
citizens. 

Dr.  Levi  J.  Woods  came  from  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  and  located  in  Car- 
linville when  a  young  man  for  the  practice  of  his  profession.  Soon  after  his 
arrival  he  married  Miss  Martha  McClure,  a  sister  of  James  A.  McClure,  Sr.,  of 
our  county.  He  was  a  very  promising  young  man  and  soon  became  the  leading 
physician  of  the  county.  He  belonged  to  a  popular  family,  pioneers  of  Morgan 
county,  Illinois.  Joseph  and  George,  his  brothers,  soon  after  followed  him  to 
Carlinville  and  became  leading  merchants  and  honorable  citizens  of  the  town. 
I  have  always  claimed,  and  had  a  right  to  claim,  the  Doctor  as  a  firm  friend  of 
mine.  He  was  cut  off  in  early  life  during  the  cholera  epidemic  here,  in  July. 
1851.  He  was  but  thirty-four  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  at  tint 


118  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

early  period  of  his  life  had  secured  a  large  and  paying  practice  in  his  profession. 
He  was  of  a  genial  disposition,  had  gained  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  our 
people  and  was  greatly  missed  by  the  community. 

At  an  early  day  there  came  into  the  county,  about  1827,  a  large,  portly  man, 
known  as  "King"  Solomon,  with  his  wife  and  a  large  family  of  boys.  He  set- 
tled on  a  creek  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  near  where  Scottville  now 
stands.  That  creek  is  now  and  ever  has  been  since  that  time,  known  as  Solo- 
mon's creek.  No  family  in  our  county  has  exerted  a  greater  influence  for  good, 
or  has  made  itself  felt  to  a  greater  extent  in  all  the  affairs  of  the  county,  than 
"King"  Solomon  and  his  seven  boys.  They  took  a  leading  position  in  the  county 
and  maintained  it  up  to  the  time  of  their  death,  having  all  lived  and  died  in  Ma- 
coupin. 

The  Rev.  Stith  M.  Otwell,  a  Methodist  minister,  settled  in  Carlinville  during 
the  early  '305  and  was  the  first  minister  of  that  church  who  preached  a  sermon 
in  our  town.  He  was  an  able  man  and  left  a  family  of  intelligent  and  cultured 
boys  and  girls,  having  occupied  an  honorable  position  in  the  history  of  our  county. 
(A  more  extended  sketch  of  Mr.  Otwell  will  be  found  on  another  prge  of  this 
volume.) 

Colonel  James  C.  Anderson  emigrated  to  this  county  from  Kentucky  during 
the  year  1834,  bringing  a  family  of  girls  and  boys  with  him.  He  was  a  large, 
portly,  fine  looking  man,  that  attracted  attention  wherever  he  went  and,  being  of 
bold  and  independent  disposition,  soon  became  a  leading  force  in  all  the  move- 
ments of  the  pioneers  to  induce  a  good  class  of  emigration  to  this  county.  And 
as  he  was  a  typical  Kentuckian  his  influence  and  efforts  brought  from  that  and 
other  southern  states  many  of  the  better  class  of  emigrants  who  were  then  seek- 
ing homes  for  themselves  and  descendants  in  the  free  states.  His  name  will 
always  be  honored  by  the  old  pioneers  of  our  county.  He  was  the  father  of  a 
family  of  boys  and  girls  that  inherited  his  open,  generous  disposition,  and  they 
have  well  maintained  and  kept  to  the  front  this  man's  great  and  generous  qual- 
ities of  mind  and  business  ability.  His  grandson,  John  C.  Anderson,  owns  and 
is  the  president  of  the  oldest  bank  in  the  city  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
wealthiest  men  in  the  county  of  Macoupin.  A  goodly  number  of  other  descend- 
ants of  this  broad-minded  man  are  now  living  in  the  county,  honorable,  upright 
and  intelligent  men  and  women.  One  of  his  sons,  C.  H.  C.  Anderson,  was  the 
husband  of  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Anderson,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Marshall  H.  Strat- 
ton.  Having  survived  her  husband,  she  is  now  living  in  Carlinville,  occupying  a 
social  position  that  gives  her  much  prominence. 

Uncle  "Dickey"  Chapman,  one  of  the  early  pioneers,  settled  on  Cahokia  Creek, 
during  the  year  1817  or  1818.  He  died  leaving  a  family  of  boys  and  girls,  among 
whom  was  our  old  friend,  Major  Fletcher  H.  Chapman  of  Carlinville,  whom  we 
knew  as  one  of  the  very  best  of  our  citizens.  He  often  held  positions  of  re- 
sponsibility and,  having  served  in  the  Union  army  during  the  rebellion,  came 
home  with  a  record  for  bravery  and  efficiency  that  was  not  excelled  by  any  other 
officer  of  that  army.  He  died  but  a  few  years  ago,  leaving  a  small  family,  who 
have  since  resided  in  Chicago. 

Seth  T.  Hodges  settled  in  the  western  part  of  the  county  on  what  has  since 
been  known  as  Hodges'  creek,  before  the  organization  of  the  county.  He  was 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  119 

one  of  the  commissioners  that  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  county  in  1829. 
He  did  his  duty  in  life  as  he  saw  it  and  gained  from  the -pioneers  the  encomium 
of  "well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant."  The  people  of  our  county  will  not 
forget  his  well  performed  services  in  their  behalf.  He  died  many  years  ago, 
leaving  a  large  family  of  girls  and  boys. 

One  of  the  best  known  families  of  early  days  was  that  of  Uncle  "Jimmy" 
Hall,  who  emigrated  from  North  Carolina.  He  came  during  the  year  1817.  He 
was  a  small,  slim-made,  active,  energetic,  quick-spoken  man,  with  courage  enough 
for  that  early  day.  He  settled  on  the  "ridge,"  near  where  Hurricane  creek  emp- 
ties into  the  Macoupin,  near  the  C.  &  A.  railroad  station,  known  as  "Macoupin 
station."  Uncle  "Jimmy"  and  all  his  family  were  splendid  musicians  and  often 
enlivened  the  cabins  of  other  pioneers  with  sweet  strains  of  the  violin".  Oliver 
W.,  a  son,  was  peculiarly  gifted  in  that  most  entertaining  accomplishment.  Ter- 
rell Hall,  another  son,  I  have  often  thought  was  the  most  active  man  I  ever  met. 
He  was  not  a  large  or  robust  man ;  on  the  contrary  he  was  slim  in  his  make-up, 
but  well-muscled.  On  one  occasion  a  stranger  came  into  the  town,  who  proved 
to  be  an  expert  wrestler  from  St.  Louis,  boasting  of  his  ability  to  throw  down 
any  man  in  the  village,  and  especially,  Terrell  Hall.  It  did  not  require  many 
hours  until  Terrell's  friends  were  on  hand,  jibing  the  St.  Louis  man,  telling  him 
that  he  was  too  big  and  "beefy"  to  throw  anybody  down  and  that  Terrell  Hall 
could  wipe  the  earth  with  him.  A  wager  of  fifty  dollars  on  the  side  was  made 
and  the  contest  was  to  take  place  the  next  day.  When  the  time  arrived  the 
parties  met  and  arranged  "holds"  to  be  taken  in  each  one  of  three  falls.  The  first 
was  to  be  "catch-as-catch-can,"  the  second  "arm-and-elbow"  hold,  and  the  third 
"back-holds."  The  contestants  selected  judges  and  stripped  to  pantaloons  for 
the  test  of  skill.  The  first  "catch-as-catch-can"  was  ended  in  quicker  time  than 
it  has  taken  me  to  write  the  above  sentence,  as  Terrell,  although  the  smaller  man, 
was  as  active  as  a  cat.  He  caught  Davidson  and  with  one  effort  landed  him  upon 
his  back,  it  was  said,  before  Davidson  got  a  hold  on  Hall.  There  was  to  be  a 
half-hour  intermission  between  the  falls.  The  second  fall  was  to  be  arm-and- 
elbow  holds.  This  was  Hall's  favorite  and,  as  he  had  never  been  thrown  when 
wrestling  this  hold,  his  friends  thought  that  he  would  end  the  contest  with  ease, 
as  the  rule  was,  two  best  in  three  of  the  falls.  On  coming  together  for  this  fall, 
Terrell  tried  his  favorite  "trip"  to  throw  Davidson ;  but  it  failed,  as  Davidson 
was  too  heavy  to  be  handled  by  the  smaller  man,  with  sufficient  strength  to 
throw  him.  But  Hall's  wind  enabled  him  to  wear  down  Davidson  until,  in  a 
lucky  moment,  he  got  a  twist  on  Davidson  and  with  a  '.'trip"  threw  him  and  won 
the  fifty  dollars.  The  next  day  the  boys  made  up  a  "pony"  purse  for  Davidson 
to  pay  his  way  back  to  St.  Louis  on  the  stage.  Another  feat  that  I  witnessed 
when  a'  small  boy,,  of  Terrell  Hall's  gave  me  a  lesson  in  hunting  large  game 
that  has  been  of  great  advantage  to  me  in  my  outings.  A  number  of  men  were 
helping  a  little  "Yankee"  to  build  a  store  house  on  the  west  side  of  the  square, 
where  Steinmeyer's  drug  store  is  now  located.  One  of  them,  who  was  on  the 
top  log  of  the  building,  discovered  three  deer  feeding  on  the  prairie,  a  quar- 
ter of  a  mile  from  the  store  house,  and  notified  the  men  below  him  that  there  were 
three  deer  feeding  on  the  prairie  west  of  where  they  were  at  work.  Terrell 
Hall  was  noted  as  a  skilful  hunter  of  that  animal.  Some  one  in  the  crowd  of- 


120  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

fered  to  wager  a  small  sum  that  he  could  not  creep  on  the  deer  close  enough 
to  kill  one  of  them.  Having  his  rifle  with  him  he  accepted  the  wager. 
No  one  in  the  crowd  thought  he  would  succeed,  as  there  was  nothing  between 
the  men  and  the  game  to  prevent  the  deer  from  seeing  Hall's  approach.  He 
exacted  a  promise  from  the  men  at  work  that  they  would  continue  their  work  on 
the  building  and  make  no  unusual  moves,  commenced  his  approach  towards  his 
quarry,  in  a  stooping  position,  for  sixty  or  seventy  yards.  Then  he  dropped  to 
his  hands  and  knees  and  at  intervals  continued  his  approach  by  jumping  to  his 
feet  and  running  towards  the  deer  as  fast  as  he  could,  for  twenty-five  or  thirty 
yards.  Suddenly,  he  again  fell  to  his  hands  and  knees  and  lay  motionless  for  a 
few  minutes  and  again  as  suddenly  jumped  to  his  feet  and  ran  about  the  same 
distance  as  he  had  done  in  the  first  instance  toward  the  deer.  When  he  had  per- 
formed these  feats  a  number  of  times,  the  deer  still  feeding,  seemingly  without 
notice  of  Hall,  we  saw  him  raise  his  rifle  to  his  face,  rest  his  arm  that  upheld 
his  rifle  on  his  knee,  and  after  taking  deliberate  aim,  fired,  and  as  we  heard  the 
report  of  the  gun  one  of  the  deer  went  down,  killed  by  a  rifle  ball  which  entered 
its  body  just  behind  the  fore  shoulder.  We  had  observed  that  when  any  one  of 
the  deer  had  its  head  up  looking  around,  Hall  remained  motionless ;  but  when  all 
three  of  them  had  their  heads  down  feeding,  he  would  jump  to  his  feet  and  run 
towards  the  deer  until  he  saw  *ne  of  them  shake  its  tail  and  commence  to  raise 
its  head.  Then  again  he  was  down,  motionless.  It  is  not  generally  known  that  a 
deer  will  feed  but  a  few  seconds  before  it  raises  its  head  and  looks  all  around  for 
danger,  and  then  resume  its  feeding  if  it  sees  nothing  that  looks  suspicious,  and 
always  before  it  raises  its  head  for  another  look,  it  invariably  shakes  its  tail.  In 
order  to  show  the  great  quantity  of  game  that  then  roamed  over  the  forests  and 
prairies  in  this  part  of  the  state,  I  will  repeat  what  Oliver  Hall  frequently  told 
me  of  the  manner  in  which  meat  was  obtained  during  several  years  that  the 
Halls  lived  near  the  junction  of  the  Hurricane  and  Macoupin  creeks.  He  told 
me  that  his  father  owned  an  old  United  States  yaeger,  flint  lock,  with  the  main 
spring  of  the  lock  broken,  so  that  it  made  the  lock  useless.  He  would  load  up 
the  old  gun  with  powder  and  ball  and  would  prime  the  same  in  the  pan  of  the 
lock  with  powder  and  then  taking  a  torch,  made  of  knots  of  dry  timber,  would 
light  the  torch  and  with  it  in  one  hand  and  the  yaeger  in  the  other,  go  slowly 
through  the  woods  until  he  spied  a  deer.  He  would  then  creep  onto  his  quarry 
until  he  got  within  thirty  or  forty  yards  of  it,  when  he  would  place  the  muzzle 
of  the  gun  in  the  forks  of  a  bush,  or  on  a  log,  and  take  deliberate  aim ;  then  plac- 
ing the  fired  torch  in  contact  with  the  priming  in  the  pan,  kill  the  deer.  In  this 
way  he  furnished  the  meat  for  his  father's  family  for  several  years.  On  another 
occasion,  he  was  sent  on  an  errand  to  a  neighbor's  cabin  and  was  riding  an  old  mare. 
When  he  had  got  but  a  short  distance  from  his  destination  he  saw  a  large  black 
bear  jump  from  an  old  treetop  and  start  to  inn.  He  started  after  it  and  soon 
overtook  the  bear,  but  could  not  make  the  old  mare  jump  on  it.  As  he  had  noth- 
ing with  him  that  he  could  kill  the  animal  with  he  was  at  a  loss  to  know  what 
to  do.  The  bear  kept  running  and  he  after  it,  trying  to  push  the  old  mare  on 
it,  until  they  got  out  into  the  prairie.  He  then  thought  of  the  iron  stirrup  on  his 
saddle  and  as  soon  as  possible,  keeping  the  bear  in  sight,  took  the  stirrup  off  the 
saddle  and  was  soon  up  with  it  again.  As  the  bear  by  this  time  was  about  fagged 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  121 

he  would  run  up  by  its  side  and  pound  it  on  the  head  with  the  iron  stirrup  until 
he  finally  brought  it  down.  He  then  jumped  off  the  mare  and  finished  the  bear 
with  his  improvised  weapon.  On  looking  around  Hall  found  himself  within  a 
few  hundred  yards  of  "bear  rough."  It  had  grown  to  be  nearly  dark;  therefore, 
he  left  the  bear  where  he  had  killed  it  until  the  next  morning,  when  he  and  Terrell 
went  after  it  and  brought  it  in. 

Dr.  Gideon  Blackburn  has  been  so  fully  discussed  in  this  history  that  I  re- 
fer to  those  chapters  for  his,  biography.  One  thing  that  I  must  say  of  him  is, 
that  of  all  the  men  that  have  ever  lived  and  labored  for  the  benefit  of  our  county, 
Dr.  Blackburn,  in  my  estimation,  stands  in  the  foreground. 

Elijah  Wills  settled  in  the  north  part  of  the  county  during  the  early  '303. 
He  died  many  years  ago,  leaving  an  intelligent  family.  One  of  the  boys,  Meridea 
A.,  was  afterwards  elected  sheriff  of  the  county. 

William  Bird,  the  father  of  Joseph  Bird,  settled  in  what  is  now  known  as 
Bird  township  at  an  early  day.  The  township  took  its  name  from  him. 

Jesse  Peebles,  the  father  of  Judge  L.  P.  Peebles,  came  to  the  county  some 
time  about  its  organization.  He  soon  became  strongly  imbued  with  the  great 
worth  of  our  prairie  and  timberland,  and  realized  the  real  value  of  these  lands 
for  agricultural  purposes.  He  invested  his  earnings  in  them  and  by  that  means 
secured  many  acres  of  the  best  land  in  the  county  before  his  death.  He  left  a 
family  that  has  followed  his  example,  by  securing  many  acres  of  Macoupin 
county's  rich  farm  lands.  Judge  L.  P.  Peebles,  his  son,  was  elected  county  judge 
for  many  terms  and  always  discharged  his  duties  with  so  much  satisfaction  that 
I  never  heard  his  action  while  judge  criticised.  He  was,  and  is,  a  lawyer  prac- 
ticing in  our  courts,  having  as  a  partner  his  son,  Jesse  Peebles.  They  have  one 
of  the  largest  clienteles  of  any  law  firm  in  the  city,  and  have  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  our  people. 

Joseph  Listen,  Sr.,  the  father  of  our  townsman,  Joseph  Listen,  Jr.,  entered 
and  improved  a  farm  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  county.  He  came  from 
Kentucky  and  was  noted  for  his  genial  and  urbane  manners.  The  old  farm  is 
still  in  possession  of  the  family. 

Colonel  James  A..McClure  was  the  head  of  all  the  McClure  family  now  liv- 
ing in  the  county  and  other  portions  of  our  country.  As  a  family  the  McClures 
have  always  been  leading  men  and  women,  not  only  of  this  county  but  of  the 
state.  He  emigrated  from  Kentucky  to  Macoupin  county  during  the  early  '308 
and  located  on  a  farm  about  three  miles  east  of  Carlinville.  He  was  highly  edu- 
cated and  was  a  large,  fine-looking  gentleman,  with  a  hospitality  and  manner  of 
the  old  Virginia  planter.  The  colonel  was  scrupulously  neat  about  his  appear- 
ance and  dressed  well.  He  became  a  very  useful  member  of  the  pioneers  in  the 
forming  and  settling  of  the  county.  Finally  he  became  connected  with  one  of 
the  departments  of  the'  government  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  died  while  in  that 
service,  leaving  many  descendants,  who  have  been  noted  in  our  state  and  county 
for  their  ability,  honesty  and  integrity,  in  all  the  official  and  business  affairs  to 
which  they  have  been  called.  Especially  have  they  taken  a  leading  part  in  build- 
ing up^our  churches  and  public  schools. 

Alfred  S.  Mayfield.  whose  family  settled  in  the  county  prior  to  its  organiza- 
tion, was  circuit  clerk  for  a  number  of  terms.  He  was  popular  with  all  classes 


122  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

of  our  citizens.  A  peculiar  feature  about  Mr.  Mayfield  was  unrealized  height, 
he  being  six  feet  and  six  inches  high.  One,  judging  from  appearances  when 
seeing  him  in  his  office  or  walking  on  the  streets,  would  not  have  estimated  him 
to  be  over  five  feet,  eight  or  ten  inches  in  height.  This  occurred  from  his  being 
stoop-shouldered.  About  one  year  before  his  death  Mrs.  Walker  and  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  a  summer's  outing  with  him.  among  the  lakes  and  forests  of  Minne- 
.sota.  This  outing  was  taken  in  the  hope  that  it  would  be  of  benefit  to  his  health. 
He,  however,  did  not  realize  this  hope.  He  came  home  without  benefit  from  the 
trip  and  bravely  fought  the  disease  that  was  pulling  him  down  until  the  next 
summer,  when,  with  the  knowledge  of  his  approaching  end,  he  admonished  his 
children  to  be  true  and  kind  to  their  mother,  aiding  and  comforting  her  in  the 
great  affliction  that  would  soon  weigh  her  down.  And  thus  this  loving  father 
passed  away,  leaving  his  wife  and  a  young  family  of  boys  and  girls  to  be  looked 
after  by  her. 

Barney  Rhodes  belonged  to  a  large  family  that  came  into  the  county,  some 
of  them,  before  its  organization.  It  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  single  out 
each  member  of  this  family  and  do  justice  to  those  that  have  passe/1  away,  per- 
haps unknown  to  me,  and  those  that  are  now  living.  Space  would  not  permit 
of  my  doing  so,  as  the  members  of  this  family  would  fill  the  historical  book  that 
we  are  now  assisting  in  preparing.  But  to  return  to  Uncle  Barney,  no  man  in 
his  community  stood  higher  for  truth,  honesty  and  integrity.  His  promise  was 
accepted  by  all,  without  hesitation  or  doubt.  He  was  a  farmer,  living  in  what  is 
now  Plainview  township.  He  entered  land,  he  struggled  with  the  wilderness  un- 
til he  subdued  it.  He  died  respected  and  loved  by  all  who  knew  him.  His  chil- 
dren, well  started  in  life  from  his  earnings  and  their  own,  have  made  good.  So 
rest,  Uncle  Barney,  your  good  name  will  never  suffer  by  the  conduct  of  your 
children. 

Barr's  Store  in  the  northwest  part  of  our  county,  took  its  name  from  Hugh 
C.  Barr,  who  settled  there  about  the  year  1830. 

Thomas  Davis  came  to  Carlinville  about  the  year  1828  and  settled  on  a  farm 
that  he  entered  about  one  mile  west  of  Carlinville.  He  was  a  good  man,  true  to 
all  the  duties  in  which  he  was  trusted. 

Dr.  Edmond  C.  Vancil  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability.  He  came 
to  this  county  about  the  year  1826  and  settled  in  what  is  now  North  Otter  town- 
ship. He  was  a  successful  physician,  a  model  farmer  and  commenced  in  early 
life  to  acquire  all  the  land  in  the  northern  part  of  our  county,  and  came  near 
doing  so  before  his  death.  As  his  name  will  appear  in  another  part  of  this  his- 
tory, I  refer  thereto  for  the  details  of  his  life. 

Pinkney  Hughes,  the  father  of  our  T.  P.  Hughes,  came  to  this  county  about 
the  time  of  its  organization,  and  soon  took  a  leading  position  in  all  the  affairs  of 
the  pioneers  who  were  then  laboring  to  build  up  the  county  and  people  it  with  a 
good  class  from  the  emigration  which  was  then  generally  flowing  from  the  south. 

I  have  always  rejoiced  that  Daniel  Dick,  a  resident  of  Kentucky,  emigrated 
to  Illinois  for  when  I  became  of  age  I  visited  his  house,  found  a  most  beautiful 
•girl  and,  within  a  very  few  months  afterwards,  she  became  my  wife.  Mr.  Dick 
was  the  nephew  of  the  Donners,  who  went  from  Sangamon  county  to  California, 
many  of  them  perishing  during  the  winter  of  1846-7  in  the  Nevada  mountains 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  123 

from  starvation,  as  they  were  caught  before  they  had  crossed  the  Nevada  moun- 
tains by  the  fall  of  a  heavy  snow  that  obscured  all  traces  and  covered  the  ground 
to  the  depth  of  thirty  or  forty  feet.  Some  of  them  escaped  to  Captain  Suiter's 
ranch  on  the  Sacramento,  during  the  spring  following.  He  first  settled  in  San- 
gamon  county,  Illinois,  but  soon  afterwards  moved  to  Macoupin  and 
bought  a  farm  in  what  is  now  North  Otter  township.  He  acquired  many  acres 
of  those  now  valuable  lands  in  that  township.  His  wife  died  in  1853,  when  he 
moved  with  his  children  to  Carlinville,  and  lived  there  up  to  the'  time  of  his 
death  which  occurred  in  1878. 

Colonel  Isaac  Greathouse,  warden  of  the  Alton  penitentiary  during  the  '305, 
with  his  family,  moved  to  Carlinville  about  the  year  1840  and  bought  four  or 
five  hundred  acres  of  land  adjoining  and  including  the  home  place  of  Bertie  M. 
Burke,  where  he,  Burke,  now  resides.  He  erected  on  the  land  adjoining  that 
residence  a  deer  park  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  by  building  a  stake-and- 
rider  fence  about  twelve  feet  high,  and  placed  therein  about  three  hundred  deer, 
that  made  a  great  resort  for  all  the  pioneers  of  the  county. 

Hugh  Rice,  a  Scotchman,  came  to  the  county  at  an  early  day,  settling  in 
what  is  now  Gillespie  township,  and  in  1849,  he  and  I  started  for  California, 
joining  the  Alton  company  that  went  from  that  city  to  the  new  Eldorado.  To 
learn  the  characteristics  of  a  man  nothing  is  of  more  aid  than  trav- 
eling and  camping  with  him  on  a  trip  of  this  kind.  He  had  become 
possessed  of  a  number  of  acres  of  land  and  when  starting  on  this  trip  left  a 
young  family  behind  him.  By  his  industry  and  economy  he  accumulated  quite 
a  fortune,  leaving  it  to  his  children,  who  have  proved  worthy  of  being  the  sons 
and  daughters  of  as  good  a  man  as  was  Uncle  "Hughey"  Rice. 

Beatty  T.  Burke,  Sr.,  came  to  the  county  of  Macoupin  in  1830,  from  Virginia. 
His  history  is  given  in  detail  in  this  work,  hence  I  refer  the  reader  to  another  ar- 
ticle which  relates  to  his  successful  efforts  in  aiding  the  building  up  of  our  county. 

Ferdinand  Taggart  came  to  Carlinville  at  an  early  day  and  erected  the  first 
brick  building  in  the  city.  He  married  a  sister  of  the  writer  and  for  years  was 
one  of  the  firm  of  Walker,  Phelps  &  Company,  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business 
in  this  city,  Alton  and  Taylorville. 

H.  W.  Wall's  father  came  to  Macoupin  county  before  its  organization,  Wall 
being  born  in  the  county  and  raised  by  Telemachus  Camp.  He  was  a  successful 
business  man  and  acquired  a  very  considerable  fortune  before  his  death,  which 
occurred  a  few  years  ago  in  Staunton,  Illinois.  He  occupied  positions  of  trust, 
both  state  and  county,  always  with  credit  to  himself  and  benefit  to  his  consti- 
tuency and  earned  a  reputation  for  honesty  and  integrity  not  surpassed  by  any 
citizen  of  the  county. 

Sargeant  Gobble  settled  in  what  is  now  Scottville  township  before  the  town 
of  that  name  was  laid  out, 'and  became  one  of  the  leading  men  in  that  part  of  the 
county.  He  was  frequently  elected  to  positions  of  trust  by  the  people  of  the 
county,  as  well  as  of  his  own  township. 

John  Lumpkin  settled  in  what  is  now  Chesterfield  township,  about  the  time 
of  the  county's  organization.  He  soon  acquired  a  large  farm  and  other  prop- 
erty and  was  and  continued  to  the  time  of  his  death,  a  respected  citizen  of  that 


124  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

locality.     C.  J.  Lumpkin,  now  the  owner  and  editor  of  the  Enquirer  of  our  city, 
is  a  descendant  from  that  respected  pioneer. 

Thos.  B.  Ross,  who  with  his  father's  family  settled  in  what  is  now  Palmyra 
township  in  an  early  day,  became  sheriff  of  the  county  and  died  of  the  cholera 
in  1851.  He  filled  the  office  with  satisfaction  and  credit  to  himself  as  well  as  to 
his  constituency. 

Moore's  branch,  three  miles  east  of  Carlinville,  took  its  name  from  Robert 
W.  Moore,  who  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  and  moved  to  this  county  at  about 
the  time  of  its  organization.  (See  another  chapter  giving  his  history.) 

Dr.  John  W.  Hankins  came  to  Carlinville  when  it  was  but  a  small  village. 
1  think  he  began  the  practice  of  medicine  in  1843  and  became  before  his  death 
one  of  the  most  successful  physicians  that  ever  practiced  medicine  in  Carlinville, 
having  during  his  later  years  the  most  of  the  best  families  of  the  town  as  his 
patients.  He  became  quite  well-to-do  and  left  his  property  to  his  children  who 
reside  here  and  in  other  states. 

General  John  I.  Rinaker  came  to  Carlinville  in  December,  1852,  and  com- 
menced the  study  of  law  under  John  M.  Palmer,  who  was  then  a  very  successful 
lawyer.  He  obtained  license  to  practice  law  in  1854.  He  afterwards  married  in 
October,  1855,  Miss  Clarissa  Keplinger,  who  resided  in  Franklin,  Morgan  county, 
Illinois,  and  has  from  that  time  until  the  present,  been  a  permanent  resident  of 
our  city.  General  Rinaker  is  a  successful  lawyer,  a  brave  soldier,  who  enlisted 
in  the  Union  army  in  1862.  went  through  the  entire  war,  coming  out  as  a  briga- 
dier general  with  a  record  of  bravery  and  efficiency.  The  writer  of  this  sketch 
got  the  knowledge  that  he  has  of  the  law  as  a  student  in  the  office  of  General 
Rinaker.  I  have  found  him  to  be  an  upright,  fearless  lawyer,  ready  to  defend 
the  interests  of  his  clients  with  great  skill  and  ability.  We  went  through  the 
entire  courthouse  controversy,  associated  together  in  the  fight  against  the  bond- 
holders until  we  finally  succeeded  in  relieving  the  taxpayers  of  our  county  of 
one  million  dollars.  I  think  the  records  of  that  controversy  will  justify  the  above 
assertion.  The  General  and  Mrs.  Rinaker  have  raised  a  family  of  boys,  who  are 
lawyers  and  one  a  skilled  architect.  They  inherited  from  their  father  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  law  and  have  proven  themselves  able,  worthy  and  successful  de- 
fenders of  the  rights  of  their  clients.  Two  of  them  have  succeeded  as  repre- 
sentatives of  the  people  in  the  legislature  of  our  state,  and  the  General  was  elected 
and  served  a  term  in  the  lower  house  of  congress  but  declined  to  become  a  can- 
didate again. 

Henry  W.  Burton  was  a  native  of  Connecticut  and  emigrated  from  that 
state  to  Illinois  in  1841,  having  become  strongly  imbued  with  the  idea,  as  ex- 
pressed by  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  "It  is  no  crime  to  be  born  in  one  of  the  eastern 
states,  provided  you  emigrate  early."  Following  out  this  idea  Mr.  Burton,  when 
a  young  man,  started  for  the  West  to  cast  his  lot  with  the  pioneers  of  Illinois. 
Here  the  farms  had  no  rocks  to  be  moved  off,  that  the  land  might  be  plowed, 
but  on  the  contrary  the  land  produced  in  great  abundance  without 
the  hard  labor  required  on  a  farm  in  the  eastern  states.  His  first  stop- 
ping place  was  Woodburn,  in  the  south  part  of  the  county.  His  brother,  James 
came  with  him  and  there  he  married  a  Miss  Cornelia  Rider,  who  proved  a  de- 
voted and  helpful  wife.  They  had  two  children,  Etta  and  Frank  W.  Etta 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  125 

married  judge  Robert  B.  Shirley,  who  is  the  son  of  William  C.  Shirley,  whose 
family  settled  in  Illinois  at  an  early  date  and  became  connected  with  the  Hoxey 
family.  They,  too,  were  pioneers  of  Illinois.  Frank  W.  Burton  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  after  a  course  of  reading  in  the  office  of  the  writer  and 
is  now  one  of  the  leading  lawyers  of  the  state.  He  married  Miss  Anna 
Robertson,  the  daughter  of  Dr.  William  A.  Robertson.  He  was  first  elected  as 
states  attorney  for  the  county.  He  is  now  serving  his  second  term  as  state  senator. 

The  writer  of  this  sketch  first  became  acquainted  with  Henry  W.  Burton 
during  an  outing  we  had  together  in  1844  over  the  beautiful  prairie  of  Illinois. 
In  going  from  Carlinville  to  our  destination  in  a  spring  wagon  we  travelled  the 
road  that  led  from  Carlinville  to  Springfield,  there  being  no  house  or  habitation 
between  Carlinville  and  John  Virden's  stage  stand,  situated  near  the  timber  of 
Sugar  Creek  in  the  southern  part  of  Sangamon  County.  From  that  time  until 
his  death,  a  few  years  ago,  that  outing  was  repeated  in  different  parts  of  the 
United  States,  annually,  until  we  both  became  convinced  that  we  had  passed  the 
age  of  the  camp  life  of  the  hunter. 

In  1868  Mr.  Burton  was  elected  circuit  clerk  of  our  county  and  held  that 
office  for  twelve  years,  being  elected  for  three  terms.  He  moved  to  our  city 
soon  after  his  first  election  and  resided  here  until  his  death.  He  was  of  genial 
disposition  and  made  friends  wherever  his  lot  was  cast.  No  man  in  this  county 
stood  higher  in  the  estimation  of  our  people  for  honesty,  integrity  and  upright- 
ness in  all  his  dealings.  During  the  gold  excitement  of  1849  Mr.  Burton  crossed 
the  plains  to  the  "new  Eldorado,"  California,  and  return  home  during  the  year 
1851  and  soon  afterwards  commenced  a  mercantile  business  in  Woodburn  and 
Bunker  Hill,  which  was  continued  until  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  circuit 
clerk  in  1868. 

Josiah  Burrough  settled  on  a  hill  one-half  mile  east  of  Carlinville.  The 
stream  nearby  afterwards  and  up  to  the  present  day  has  been  called  "Burrough's 
Branch.''  Mr.  Burrough  was  one  of  the  commissioners  who  assisted  in  the  or- 
ganization of  the  county  and  diecl  leaving  a  large  family  to  mourn  his  loss. 

Dr.  William  A.  Robertson  was  a  son  of  a  Methodist  minister  who  came  to 
our  county  about  the  time  of  its  organization.  In  many  respects,  Dr.  Robertson 
had  many  traits  that  the  pioneers  thought  strange,  one  of  which  was  that  while 
merchandising  in  Carlinville  he  invariably  walked  to  Alton,  35  miles  distant,  to 
purchase  his  goods  for  the  store.  Another  was  that  becoming  subject  to  dys- 
pepsia he  tried  to  cure  it  by  the  use  of  crackers  and  water  alone,  without  other 
food  for  one  year.  He,  too,  soon  became  conscious  that  the  purchase  of  lands 
in  this  county  would  repay  him  better  than  merchandising  and  became  a  trader 
in  real  estate  and  the  loaning  of  money,  at  which  he  succeeded  to  the  extent 
that  when  he  died  he  was  quite  wealthy  for  that  day.  He  reared  a  family  of 
boys  and  girls  who  have  aided  greatly  in  the  building  up  of  the  county.  I  neg- 
lected to  say  that  Dr.  Robertson  became  a  Methodist  preacher  and  died  in  that 
faith. 

Ezekiel  Good  settled  in  what  is  now  Carlinville  and  built  the  first  log  cabin 
that  was  erected,  across  the  street  east  from  the  courthouse.  He  was  one  of 
the  commissioners  that  laid  off  the  county.  He  did  his  duty  to  the  full 
satisfaction  of  the  pioneers  of  this  county  and  died  in  1834  greatly  lamented 


126  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

by  those  whose  acquaintance  he  had  formed.  He  was  buried  in  the  Carlinville 
cemetery  and  was  one  of  the  first  to  be  interred  in  that  now  populous  burying 
ground. 

In  preparing  the  above  sketches  I  have  tried  to  confine  myself  to  the  pioneers 
who  came  to  the  county  prior  to  and  about  the  time  of  its  organization,  in  1829. 
I  feel  conscious  that  I  have  made  mistakes  and  have  omitted  the  names  of 
many  pioneers  whose  names  ought  to  be  recorded  in  this  sketch.  Memory  fails 
in  the  attempt  to  single  out  incidents  and  men  when  the  corroding  effects  of 
time  have  intervened  between  the  long  ago  and  today. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

GOVERNMENT. 

COMMISSIONERS'  COURT  OF  ALMOST  UNLIMITED  POWER — LIST  OF  FIRST  VOTERS — 
COMMISSIONERS'  COURT  ABOLISHED  AND  COUNTY  DIVIDED  INTO  TOWNSHIPS — 
NAMES  OF  COUNTY  OFFICIALS  FROM  1829  TO  19!  I. 

Under  the  act  of  the  legislature  passed  in  1829,  creating  the  county  of  Ma- 
coupin,  provision  was  made  for  a  governing  body  to  be  known  as  the  county 
commissioners'  court,  and  at  the  first  election,  held  at  the  home  of  Joseph  Bor- 
ough on  the  I3th  day  of  April,  1829,  a  majority  of  the  votes  cast  resulted  in  the 
choice  of  Theodorus  Davis,  William  Wilcox  and  Seth  Hodges  as  members  of 
said  court.  Tristram  P.  Hoxey  was  appointed  county  clerk.  His  duties  included 
the  offices  of  county  recorder  and  circuit  clerk.  Joseph  Borough,  at  whose  home 
the  first  election  was  held,  was  appointed  county  surveyor  by  the  governor  in 
1829,  and  it  was  he  who  laid  out  the  county  seat.  At  the  election  referred  to, 
seventy-eight  votes  were  cast. 

NAMES    OF    VOTERS. 

John  Hope,  Edward  McKinley,  Reuben  Harris,  Isom  Dalton,  Charles  Mc- 
Vey,  Lewis  Stiller,  Peter  Akes,  Jr.,  William  Smith,  Howard  Finley,  Alfred 
Akes,  Robert  Patton,  Jesse  Cox,  Isaac  Akes,  Robert  Palmer,  Robert  Harris, 
Shadrach  Reddick,  David  Coop,  Henry  Weeks,  John  Chandler,  Joseph  Carter, 
John  D.  Chapman,  Joseph  Vincent,  Charles  Lear,  Jr.,  Levi  Day,  George  Shelly, 
William  Lovel,  Thomas  Loveless,  Daniel  Stringer,  Samuel  Jackson,  Aaron  Jack- 
son, William  Cormack,  Reuben  Jackson,  John  G.  Wright,  David  T.  Taylor,  Sam- 
uel Lear,  Joseph  Borough,  John  Snell,  Theodorus  Davis,  Sr.,  William  Wilcox, 
Richard  Chapman,  William  G.  Coop,  John  Davis,  Larken  Richison,  William 
Cummings,  James  B.  Cowell,  Andrew  Russell,  Isaac  Massey,  Hiram  Russell, 
Abel  Russell,  Isaac  Bristow,  Reuben  Clevenger,  Morris  Hilyard,  John  Gray, 
Newton  Vance,  Hugh  Gibson,  Charles  Lear,  Sr.,  Joseph  Hilyard,  Michael  Best, 
David  Coop,  Sr.,  John  Harris,  John  W.  Cox,  Joshua  Simmons,  Samuel  M.  Har- 
ris, Peter  Akes,  Sr.,  Elijah  Bristow,  Seth  T.  Hodges,  George  Mathis,  Solomon 
Davis,  Roger  Snell,  Tristram  P.  Hoxey,  John  Powell,  Abraham  Wyatt,  Lewis 
Solomon,  Alexander  Carson,  John  Lee,  Sr.,  John  Lee,  Jr.,  Theodorus  Davis,  Jr., 
John  Coop  (78  votes). 

"I  certify  that  John  Powell,  Abraham  Wyatt,  judges,  and  T.  P.  Hoxey  and 
Theodorus  Davis,  clerks  of  the  election,  were  severally  sworn  before  me  as  the 

127 


128  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIX  COUNTY 

law  directs,  and  that  I  was  sworn  agreeably  to  law  by  John  Powell,  he  being  one 
of  the  judges  of  the  election,  previous  to  our  entering  upon  the  duties  of  our 
respective  offices  dated  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Borough,  this  I3th  day  of  April, 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty-nine. 

"LEWIS  SOLOMON,  J.  P." 

A  poll  of  an  election  held  at  the  house  of  Felix  Hoover,  in  the  third  precinct 
in  Macoupin  county,  on  the  i6th  of  May,  1829. 

NAMES  OF  VOTERS. 

Levi  Day,  Isaac  Prewitt,  David  Faulkner,  Felix  Hoover,  T.  N.  Vance,  I.  Lee, 
Jr.,  I.  McGinnis,  G.  Mathis,  J.  Nevins,  I.  Massey,  Thomas  Morris,  S.  Hodges, 
Russell  Tabor.  William  U.  Vance,  I.  Bristow,  E.  Wells,  I.  Howard,  Charles 
Lear,  Andrew  Russell,  Wyatt  Wardup,  Green  Weaver,  David  Taylor,  Edmond 
C.  Vancil,  William  Cummings,  E.  Bristow,  James  Bristow,  T.  C.  Mabry,  T.  Nev- 
ins, Hugh  Gibson,  Henry  Quyle,  Solomon  Davis,  John  Cummings,  Lewis  Solo- 
mon (35  votes). 

A  poll  book  of  an  election  held  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Borough,  Macoupin 
county,  state  of  Illinois,  for  Macoupin  district,  to  elect  three  magistrates  and  two 
constables  in  and  for  said  district,  this  i6th  of  May,  1829. 

NAMES   OF   VOTERS. 

David  Stringer,  Andrew  Brownlee,  John  Harris,  Robert  Palmer,  Samuel  M. 
Harris,  Samuel  Lear,  Theodorus  Davis,  Bennett  Tilley,  Abraham  Smith,  Tris- 
tram P.  Hoxsey,  David  Coop,  Sr.,  Daniel  Deadrick,  Richard  Smith,  Shadrach 
Reddick,  Norris  Hays,  Nathan  Mabry,  Aaron  Tilley,  John  L.  Davis,  John  Pow- 
ell, Joseph  Borough,  Peter  Akes,  William  G.  Coop  (23  votes). 

At  an  election  held  this  i6th  day  of  May,  1829,  agreeably  to  an  order  received 
from  the  county  clerk  of  Macoupin  county,  we  the  undernamed  judges  and  clerks 
do  return  the  following  list  of  names  to  be  acknowledged  as  sufficient  votes  at 
said  election : 

NAMES   OF   VOTERS. 

Lewis  Cormack,  Joseph  Vinson,  Henry  Weeks,  John  Vinson,  james  Grant, 
Abraham  Wyatt,  Peyton  Samands,  William  Wilcox,  Joseph  Hilyard,  Alexan- 
der B.  Miller,  Joshua  Samands,  Cornelius  Wood,  Edward  McKinley,  James  B. 
Cowell,  William  G.  Cormack,  John  W.  Cox,  Samuel  Jackson,  Roger  Snell,  John 
Chapman.  Joseph  Best,  Michael  Best,  John  Snell  (22  votes). 

To  the  commissioners'  court  was  given  almost  unlimited  power  in  the  matter 
of  local  government  and  its  jurisdiction  covered  almost  every  conceivable  sub- 
ject relating  to  the  business  affairs  of  the  bailiwick.  In  fact,  the  record  makes 
it  appear  that  on  more  than  one  occasion  the  court  assumed  dignities  not  intended 
by  the  law  which  called  it  into  being,  and  for  that  reason  it  finally  became  a  tar- 
get for  many  adverse  criticisms. 

The  county  commissioners'  court  continued  in  existence  until  1849,  when  it 
was  abolished  by  an  act  of  the  legislature,  approved  February  I2th  of  that  year. 


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HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  129 

Under  this  act  provision  was  made  for  a  county  court  to  consist  of  a  j  udge,  and 
two  associate  justices,  whose  duties  should  be  "to  sit  with  the  county  judge,  as 
members  of  the  court,  for  the  transaction  of  all  county  business."  The  county 
court  remained  in  existence  until  1870,  when  it  was  superseded  by  the  board  of 
supervisors,  the  present  governing  board  of  the  county. 

Dissatisfaction  throughout  the  county  was  made  manifest  by  many  of  the 
taxpayers,  with  the  manner  in  which  the  affairs  of  the  county  had  been  con- 
ducted, and  hence  it  was  that  in  1870  the  citizens  of  Macoupins  by  a  decided 
majority,  adopted  the  township  form  of  government,  which  has  since  been 
adhered  to. 

THE   COUNTY    DIVIDED    INTO    TOWNSHIPS. 

Following  the  expressed  determination  of  the  people  to  adopt  the  township 
form  of  government,  the  county  court,  then  composed  of  Philander  C.  Huggins, 
Andrew  A.  Atkins  and  Martin  Olmstead,  appointed  John  I.  Rinaker,  E.  H.  Davis 
and  John  T.  Henderson  commissioners,  to  divide  the  county  into  towns,  agree- 
ably to  the  statute  made  and  provided  to  provide  for  township  organization.  In 
relation  thereto  the  following  appears  in  the  records : 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  commissioners  appointed  by  the  county  court 
of  Macoupin  county,  state  of  Illinois,  at  the  December  term,  A.  D.,  1870,  of  said 
court  to  divide  said  county  into  townships  and  name  the  same  under  the  town- 
ship organization  laws  of  the  state  of  Illinois,  held  at  the  court  house  in  Carlin- 
ville  on  this  day  in  pursuance  of  agreement,  the  board  organized  by  the  ap- 
pointment of  John  I.  Rinaker  as  chairman  and  John  P.  Henderson  secretary. 

"The  said  board  as  such  commissioners  proceeded  to  divide  the  county  into 
towns,  making  as  many  towns  as  there  are  townships  according  to  government 
survey,  there  being  twenty-four  in  number.  The  board  not  being  fully  advised 
in  regard  to  the  wishes  of  the  people  in  the  several  towns,  or  some  of  them,  in 
regard  to  names  for  the  said  towns,  and  wishing  to  further  consult  the  wishes 
of  the  people,  it  was  moved  and  carried  that  the  board  adjourn  to  meet  again 
on  Thursday,  February  2,  1871,  at  the  county  clerk's  office  in  Carlinville,  Ma- 
coupin county,  Illinois. 

"JOHN  I.  RINAKER, 
"Chairman  Board  Commissioners. 
"JOHN  P.  HENDERSON, 
"Secretary  of  the  Board. 
"February  23,  1871. 

"The  board  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  present  John  I.  Rinaker,  E.  H. 
Davis  and  John  P.  Henderson.  After  due  consideration  of  reports  from  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  county,  the  board  proceeded  to  make  changes  in  the  names  of 
towns  in  accordance  with  .the  expressed  will  of  the  people  and  agreed  and  finally 
adopted  the  names  as  set  forth  in  the  report  this  day,  agreed  upon  and  filed 
with  the  county  clerk,  which  report  was  duly  signed  by  the  several  commissioners 
and  the  board  adjourned. 

"JOHN  I.  RINAKER,  Chairman. 
"JOHN  P.  HENDERSON,  Secretary." 

Vol.  I— I 


130  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

In  1872  township  12  N.  R.  6  W.  was  divided  into  two  townships,  namely, 
Virden  and  Girard,  which  made  the  number  of  townships  in  the  county  twenty- 
five.  In  1884  Staunton  township  was  divided  into  two  halves  and  the  north  half 
was  named  Mt.  Olive,  which  made  the  number  of  townships  in  the  county 
twenty-six,  which  at  present  prevails. 


COUNTY    COMMISSIONERS. 

Theodorus  Davis,  William  Wilcox,  Seth  Hodges,  1829;  Lewis  Solomon, 
Roger  Snell,  Samuel  Lair,  1832;  Samuel  Lair,  Ezekiel  Ross,  Jesse  Rhoads,  1834; 
Ezekiel  Ross,  Jesse  Rhoads,  Thomas  Corr,  1836;  Lewis  Solomon,  Samuel  Lair, 
Frederick  A.  Olds,  1838;  Lewis  Solomon,  Andrew  S.  Opdyke,  Samuel  Lair, 
1839;  Lewis  Solomon,  Andrew  S.  Opdyke,  Seburn  Gilmore,  1840;  David  Mc- 
Shee,  A.  S.  Opdyke,  S.  Gilmore,  1841 ;  John  S.  Foster,  S.  Gilmore,  David  Mc- 
Shee,  1842;  David  McShee,  J.  S.  Foster,  Jarrett  Dugger,  1843;  David  McShee, 
J.  S.  Foster,  Jarrett  Dugger,  1844;  Jarrett  Dugger,  David  McShee,  John  M. 
Hilyard,  1845;  David  McShee,  John  M.  Hilyard,  Bird  Peebles.  1846;  John  M. 
Hilyard,  Bird  Peebles,  David  McShee,  1847;  Jorin  M.  Hilyard,  David  McShee, 
Bird  Peebles,  1848;  Bird  Peebles,  David  McShee,  John  M.  Hilyard.  1849. 

PROBATE   JUDGES. 

J.  P.  Smith,  1831;  P.  W.  Winchester,  1832;  Charles  Stover,  1837;  Thomas 
Jayne,  1839;  John  M.  Palmer,  1843;  Seburn  Gilmore,  1847;  John  M.  Palmer, 
1848;  William  Weer,  Jr.,  1851 ;  S.  S.  Gilbert,  1853;  Lewis  Solomon,  1857;  T.  L. 
Loomis,  1861,  reelected  in  1865;  P.  C.  Huggins,  1869;  Lewis  P.  Peebles,  1873, 
reelected  in  1877. 

COUNTY    JUDGES. 

John  M.  Palmer,  James  Breden,  G.  A.  W.  Cloud,  1849;  William  Weer, 
G.  A.  W.  Cloud,  1852;  Samuel  S.  Gilbert,  James  Breden,  1852;  G.  A.  W. 
Cloud,  George  Judd,  1854;  S.  S.  Gilbert,  G.  A.  W.  Cloud,  George  Judd,  1856; 
L.  Solomon,  T.  B.  Rice,  G.  A.  W.  Cloud,  1857;  Thaddeus  L.  Loomis,  G.  A.  W. 
Cloud,  Thomas  B.  Rice,  1861 ;  T.  L.  Loomis,  John  Yowell,  Isham  J.  Peebles, 
1865;  Philander  C.  Huggins,  Andrew  A.  Atkins,  Martin  Olmstead.  1869;  Lewis 
P.  Peebles,  1873,  reelected  1877,  1882  and  1886;  Archilaus  Yancey,  1890;  Bal- 
four  Cowen,  1894;  David  E.  Keefe,  1898;  J.  B.  Vaughan,  1902,  reelected,  1906; 
Truman  A.  Snell,  1908. 

COUNTY    CLERKS. 

T.  P.  Hoxey,  1829;  John  Wilson,  1837,  removed  the  same  year  and  A.  Mc- 
Kim  Dubois  elected  to  fill  the  position;  J.  A.  Chestnut,  1838;  Enoch  Wall,  1851 ; 
George  H.  Holliday,  1858;  Thomas  M.  Metcalf,  1869;  Casper  Westermeier,  Jr., 
1873,  reelected,  1882;  William  R.  Dugan,  1886;  John  B.  Vaughn,  1890;  Fred  G. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  131 

Oeltgen,  1894;  O.  C.  Hartley,  1898;  W.  C.  Seehausen,  1902,  reelected,  1906  and 
1908. 

STATES    ATTORNEYS. 

George  Farquer,  1830;  John  J.  Hardin,  1833;  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  1835; 
Jesse  B.  Thomas,  1837;  D.  M.  Woodson,  1839;  John  S.  Greathouse,  1841;  John 
Evans,  1843;  C.  H.  Goodrich,  1845;  Henry  Dusenberry,  1847;  C..H.  Goodrich, 
1849;  Cyrus  Epler,  1853;  James  B.  White,  1857;  C.  M.  Morrison,  1865;  Horace 
Gwin,  1870;  S.  T.  Corn,  1873;  Alexander  H.  Bell,  1880;  Frank  W.  Burton,  1884, 
reelected,  1888;  J.  B.  Vaughn,  1896,  reelected,  1904;  James  M.  Mahoney,  1900; 

A.  S.  Cuthbertson,  1904;  James  H.  Murphy,  1910. 

CIRCUIT   CLERKS. 

Tristram  P.  Hoxey,  1829;  A.  McKim  Dubois,  1841;  A.  S.  Mayfield,  1860. 
He  died  after  his  reelection  in  1864  and  the  term  was  filled  out  by  M.  Mayfield; 
Henry  W.  Burton,  1868;  George  R.  Hughes,  1876;  Thomas  R.  McKee,  1880, 
reelected,  1884;  Ben  B.  Olbert,  1888;  John  Homer,  1896,  reelected,  1900;  George 
L.  Tipton,  1904;  Thomas  Cain,  1908. 

SHERIFFS. 

John  Harris,  1829;  Jefferson  Weatherford,  1834;  B.  T.  Burke;  1838;  William 
M.  Snow,  1851;  J.  L.  Plain,  1854;  M.  McClure,  1856;  J.  L.  Plain,  1858;  M.  N. 
Wills,  1860;  H.  Tappan,  1862;  M.  N.  Wills,  1864;  Joseph  B.  Listen,  1866;  S.  B. 
Wilcox,  1868;  William  H.  Fishback,  1870.  He  died  in  office  and  the  term  was 
filled  out  by  Peter  Schaffer;  James  T.  Pennington,  1872;  Isaac  Heaton,  1876; 
John  F.  Sunderland,  1878,  reelected,  1880;  Abraham  C.  Hulse,  1882;  Lawrence 
C.  Murphy,  1886;  Henry  D.  O'Neil,  1890;  P.  C.  Davenport,  1894;  W.  J.  H. 
Fahrenkrog,  1898;  Ed  H.  Dickerson,  1902;  Robert  L.  Jones,  1906;  Elmo  Etter, 
1908. 

TREASURERS. 

William  G.  Coop,  1829;  Henry  H.  Havron,  1831 ;  Travis  Moore,  1832;  Archer 

B.  Beauchamp,  1832;  Travis  Moore,  1833;  John  Lewis,  1834;  James  McLarning, 
1839;  Thomas  P.  Ross,   1847;  William  M.  Maddox.  1850;  L.  F.  Palmer,  1850; 
William  M.  Snow,   1853;  Thomas  Hart,  1854;  Mark  Crowder,  1855;  Dempsey 
Sawyer,  1857;  Frank  Steward,  1865;  Randolph  J.  Haley,  1869;  John  W.  Ayers, 
1871;  John  W.  Wills,   1873;  Lucius  B.  Corbin,   1875;  Zachariah  Harris,  1879; 
George  Siegel,  1882;' Peter  Heinz,  1886;  Abraham  Frey,  1890;  Thomas  Z.  Glea- 
son,  1894;  Thomas  P.  Hughes,  1898;  Emmet  T.  Rice,  1902;  Elmo  Etter,  1906; 
S.  T.  Carmody,  1908. 

CORONERS. 

David  Coop,  Sr.,  1829;  Robert  Wallace,  1832;  William  S.  Raymond,  1840; 
William  S.  Dugger,  1842;  Josiah  Borough,  1844;  William  S.  Dugger,  1846;  John 
Graham,  1847;  Josiah  Borough,  1853;  William  F.  Dugger,  1856;  William  B. 


132  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Brink,  1856;  David  McDaniel,  1858;  J.  D.  Kerr,  1860;  -  -  Wright,  1864;  John 
Cromwell,  1866;  M.  R.  Judd,  1868;  Charles  A.  Herb,  1870;  Peter  Schaffer,  1871 ; 
David  Deeds,  1872;  Peter  Heinz,  1874;  Andrew  Rathgeber,  1876;  James  S. 
Duncan,  1878;  Franklin  B.  Simpson,  1882;  Robert  A.  Hoxey,  1888;  C.  C.  Robin- 
son, 1900;  Henry  Winter,  1904;  Dorris  Karns,  1908. 

SUPERINTENDENTS  OF  SCHOOLS. 

William  Miller,  1833;  Daniel  Anderson,  1839;  Enoch  Wall,  1846;  G.  W.  Wal- 
lace, 1847;  William  Weer,  1849;  George  B.  Hicks,  1851 ;  Lewis  Judd,  1855;  Hor- 
ace Givin,  1859;  Charles  E.  Foote,  1861 ;  Fletcher  W.  Chapman,  1869;  John  S. 
Kenyon,  1873;  F.  W.  Crouch,  1877;  George  W.  Grubb,  1881 ;  George  W.  Bower- 
sox,  1883;  George  Harrington,  1886;  Thomas  E.  Moore,  1890;  J-ames  E.  Mc- 
Clure,  1894;  M.  M.  Kessinger,  1898;  Robert  C.  Moore,  1906;  reelected  in  1908. 

SURVEYORS. 

Philip  Deatherage,  1829;  he  died  the  same  year  and  Ezekiel  Good  was  ap- 
pointed to  fill  the  office;  Benjamin  V.  Stephenson,  1837;  Isaac  Whitaker,  1841; 
George  H.  Holliday,  1851;  F.  H.  Chapman,  1853;  Thomas  R.  McKee,  1859;  A. 
W.  Edwards,  1861 ;  G.  W.  Farrar,  1863;  T.  G.  Capps,  1865;  James  Woodul, 
1867;  E.  C.  Winchester,  1869;  Jacob  R.  Muhleman,  1875;  E.  C.  Winchester, 
1878;  Thomas.  Bacon,  1884;  H.  M.  Minton,  1896;  S.  T.  Morse,  1904;  G.  E.  Mc- 
Kean,  1908.  He  resigned  and  S.  T.  Morse  was  appointed  to  fill  the  office. 

SUPERVISORS. 
1871. 

Staunton — Thomas  Funderburk;  Cahokia — Edward  S.  Holmes;  Honey  Point 
— James  W.  York ;  Shaw's  Point— John  Lewis ;  Nilwood — J.  D.  Williamson ;  Vir- 
den — J.  D.  Metcalf;  Dorchester — Thomas  J.  Lukens;  Gillespie — Randal  Clark; 
Brushy  Mound — Levi  Mitchell;  Carlinville — B.  T.  Burke;  South  Otter — Will- 
iam H.  Johnson ;  North  Otter — Andrew  A.  Atkins ;  Bunker  Hill — J.  T.  Penning- 
ton;  Hilyard — William  N.  Thomas;  Polk — Moses  S.  Eldred;  Bird — Samuel  L. 
Loveless;  South  Palymra — Dempsey  N.  Solomon;  North  Palymra — J.  B.  Van- 
cil;  Brighton — Henry  F.  Martin;  Shipman — R.  F.  Rambo;  Chesterfield — Nicho- 
las Challacombe;  Western  Mound — W.  C.  Edwards;  Barr — John  M.  Bates; 
Scottville — John  H.  Rohrer. 

1872. 

Staunton — Henry  A.  Best ;  Cahokia — Edward  S.  Holmes  ;  Honey  Point — 
John  Cromwell ;  Shaw's  Point — John  Lewis ;  Nilwood — J.  D.  Williamson  ; 
Girard — J.  D.  Metcalf ;  Virden — Jonathan  Plowman  ;  Dorchester — Thomas  J. 
Lukens ;  Gillespie — Francis  M.  Adams  ;  Brushy  Mound — F.  Trabue ;  Carlinville 
— B.  T.  Burke;  South  Otter — Robert  Bacon;  North  Otter — Andrew  A.  Atkins; 
Bunker  Hill — William  Love;  Hilyard — R.  Cromwell;  Polk— Moses  S.  Eldred; 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  133 

Bird  —  Samuel  L.  Loveless;  South  Palmyra  —  Dempsey  N.  Solomon;  North 
Palymra  —  J.  B.  Vancil;  Brighton  —  Henry  F.  Martin;  •  Shipman  —  Edward  C. 
Wales;  Chesterfield  —  Nicholas  Challacombe;  Western  Mound  —  W.  C.  Edwards; 
Barr  —  Richard  J.  Metcalf  ;  Scottville  —  James  H.  Rohrer. 

1873- 

Staunton  —  William  Panhorst;  Cahokia  —  Edward  S.  Holmes;  Honey  Point  — 
John  Brown;  Shaw's  Point  —  G.  W.  Barnett;  Nilwood  —  A.  F.  Hamilton;  Girard 
—  J.  P.  Wiley  ;  Virden  —  Jonathan  Plowman  ;  Dorchester  —  Thomas  J.  Lukens  ; 
Gillespie  —  Alexander  Sinclair;  Brushy  Mound  —  F.  Trabue;  Carlinville  —  B.  T. 
Burke;  South  Otter  —  Robert  Bacon;  North  Otter  —  Andrew  A.  Atkins;  Bunker 
Hill—  F.  W.  Cross;  Hilyard—  R.  Cromwell;  Polk—  Moses  S.  Eldred;  Bird- 
John  Craggs;  South  Palmyra  —  Dempsey  N.  Solomon;  North  Palymra  —  J.  B. 
Vancil  ;  Brighton  —  Henry  F.  Martin  ;  Shipman  —  Edward  C.  Wales  ;  Chesterfield 
—Nicholas  Challacombe  ;  Western  Mound  —  W.  C.  Edwards  ;  Barr  —  Edward 
Henderson  ;  Scottville  —  James  H.  Rohrer. 

1874. 

Staunton  —  F.  M.  Anderson  ;  Cahokia  —  Allen  Bayless  ;  Honey  Point  —  *  ; 
Shaw's  Point  —  G.  W.  Barnett;  Nilwood,  John  H.  Ballinger;  Girard  —  Michael 
Brown;  Virden  —  *;  Dorchester  —  John  R.  Sawyer;  Gillespie  —  P.  H.  Pentzer; 
Brushy  Mound  —  George  Cowell  ;  Carlinville  —  B.  T.  Burke  ;  South  Otter  —  Moses 
Yowell  ;  North  Otter  —  Andrew  A.  Atkins  ;  Bunker  Hill  —  F.  W.  Cross  ;  Hilyard 
—Peter  Coriell  ;  Polk—  Moses  S.  Eldred  ;  Bird—**  ;  South  Palmyra—*  ;  North 
Palmyra  —  J.  B.  Vancil  ;  Brighton  —  George  A.  Brown  ;  Shipman  —  Samuel  Will- 
iams ;  Chesterfield  —  Amos  Goodsell  ;  Western  Mound  —  P.  R.  Cook  ;  Barr  —  Rich- 
ard J.  Metcalf;  Scottville  —  James  B.  Angelo. 


Staunton  —  F.  M.  Henderson  ;  Cahokia  —  William  M.  Baldwin  ;  Honey  Point  — 
J.  B.  Masters;  Shaw's  Point  —  *;  Nilwood—  S.  H.  Taylor;  Girard—  Michael 
Brown;  Virden  —  J.  G.  Smith;  Dorchester  —  John  R.  Sawyer;  Gillespie  — 
P.  H.  Pentzer;  Brushy  Mound  —  George  Cowell,  Jr.;  Carlinville;  B.  T.  Burke; 
South  Otter  —  Moses  Yowell;  North  Otter  —  Andrew  A.  Atkins;  Bunker  Hill  — 
F.  W.  Cross;  Hilyard  —  Joseph  Waggoner;  Polk  —  Moses  S.  Eldred;  Bird  —  J.  F. 
Gulp;  South  Palmyra  —  Dempsey  N.  Solomon;  North  Palmyra  —  J.  B.  Vancil; 
Brighton  —  George  A.  Brown  ;  Shipman  —  J.  W.  Darlington  ;  Chesterfield  —  Amos 
Goodsell  ;  Western  Mound  —  P.  R.  Cook  ;  Barr  —  J.  W.  Henderson  ;  Scottville  — 
James  B.  Angelo. 

1876. 

Staunton  —  F.  M.  Henderson;  Cahokia  —  L.  W.  Link;  Honey  Point  —  Isaac  G. 
Colton;  Shaw's  Point  —  E.  W.  Johnson;  Nilwood  —  S.  H.  Taylor;  Girard  —  Michael 


*Not  represented. 
**Not  recorded. 


134  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Brown;  Virden — J.  G.  Smith;  Dorchester — John  R.  Sawyer;  Gillespie — P.  H. 
Pentzer ;  Brushy  Mound — George  Cowell ;  Carlinville— B.  T.  Burke,  George 
Hunter,  assistant ;  South  Otter — Moses  Yowell ;  North  Otter — William  A.  Gard- 
ner; Bunker  Hill — F.  W.  Cross;  Hilyard — R.  Cromwell;  Polk — Moses  S.  El- 
dred;  Bird — J.  H.  Arnett;  South  Palmyra — Dempsey  N.  Solomon;  North  Pal- 
myra— J.  B.  Vancil ;  Brighton — George  A.  Brown ;  Shipman — T.  N.  Marsh ; 
Chesterfield — Amos  Goodsell;  Western  Mound — P.  R.  Cook;  Barr — J.  W. 
Dalby:  Scottville— David  Elder. 

1877. 

Staunton — F.  M.  Henderson ;  Cahokia — L.  W.  Link ;  Honey  Point — J.  B. 
Masters;  Shaw's  Point — David  Gooch;  Nilwood — S.  H.  Taylor;  Girard — William 
E.  Eastham ;  Virden — J.  G.  Smith ;  Dorchester — John  R.  Sawyer ;  Gillespie — 
P.  H.  Pentzer;  Brushy  Mound — D.  P.  Deadrick;  Carlinville — Thaddeus  Phillips; 
W.  E.  P.  Anderson,  assistant ;  South  Otter— Moses  Yowell ;  North  Otter— Wil- 
liam A.  Gardner ;  Bunker  Hill — F.  W.  Cross ;  Hilyard — Alexander  Shultz ;  Polk 
— Moses  S.  Eldred ;  Bird — Henry  Craggs ;  South  Palmyra — Dempsey  N.  Solo- 
mon ;  North  Palmyra- — J.  B.  Vancil ;  Brighton — George  A  Brown ;  Shipman — 
T.  N.  Marsh;  Chesterfield — Amos  Goodsell;  Western  Mound — Gus  Etter;  Barr — 
J.  W.  Dalby ;  Scottville — James  B.  Angelo. 

1878. 

Staunton — William  Panhorst ;  Cahokia — L.  W.  Link ;  Honey  Point — John  F. 
Sunderland;  Shaw's  Point — J.  J.  Womack;  Nilwood — James  H.  Wolfe;  Girard — 
William  E.  Eastham ;  Virden — J.  G.  Smith ;  Dorchester — John  R.  Sawyer ;  Gil- 
lespie— P.  H.  Pentzer;  Brushy  Mound — Joseph  F.  Clark;  Carlinville — J.  W. 
Hankins ;  T.  G.  Moore,  assistant ;  South  Otter — Thomas  Mahan ;  North  Otter — 
D.  W.  Solomon ;  Bunker  Hill— F.  W.  Cross ;  Hilyard— Newell  H.  Brown ;  Polk 
— Henry  Bradford;  Bird — Samuel  L.  Loveless;  South  Palmyra — William  G. 
Ross ;  North  Palmyra — George  W.  Bullock ;  Brighton — George  A.  Brown ;  Ship- 
man— C.  E.  Wales ;  Chesterfield — Amos  Goodsell ;  Western  Mound — Philip  R. 
Cook;  Barr — J.  W.  Dalby;  Scottville — James  H.  Rohrer. 

1879. 

Staunton — Thomas  Funderburk;  Cahokia — L.  M.  Link;  Honey  Point — Wil- 
liam N.  Gulp;  Shaw's  Point — John  J.  Womack;  Nilwood — James  H.  Wolfe; 
Girard — C.  C.  Armstrong ;  Virden — John  G.  Smith ;  Dorchester — Josiah  Sawyei , 
Gillespie — P.  H.  Pentzer ;  Brushy  Mound — William  H.  Perrine  ;  Carlinville — John 
W.  Hankins;  T.  G.  Moore;  South  Otter — Moses  Yowell;  North  Otter — Enoch 
Hill;  Bunker  Hill — P.  C.  Muggins;  Hilyard— James  Hackney;  Polk— John  M. 
Yowell ;  Bird — George  W.  Arnett ;  South  Palmyra — William  G.  Ross ;  North 
Palmyra — James  Nevins ;  Brighton — E.  T.  Dain  ;  Shipman — C.  E.  Wales ;  Ches- 
terfield— Amos  Goodsell;  Western  Mound — Elisha  Dawson;  Barr — Edwin  Hen- 
derson ;  Scottville — James  H.  Rohrer. 

1880. 

Staunton — Thomas  Funderburk,  Cahokia — L.  W.  Link ;  Honey  Point — Wil- 
liam N.  Gulp;  Shaw's  Point — John  J.  Womack;  Nilwood — A.  F.  Hamilton; 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  135 

Girard — C.  C.  Armstrong;  Virden — John  G.  Smith;  Dorchester — Josiah  Saw- 
yer; Gillespie — P.  H.  Pentzer;  Brushy  Mound — Joseph -F.  Clark;  Carlinville — 
J.  W.  Hankins,  T.  G.  Moore;  South  Otter — Moses  Yowell ;  North 
Otter— Enoch  Hall;  Bunker  Hill— P.  C.  Huggins ;  Hilyard— James  Hack- 
ney; Polk — John  M.  Yowell;  Bird — John  H.  Brown;  South  Palmyra — William 
M.  Esisex  ;  North  Palmyra — James  Nevins  ;  Brighton — E.  T.  Dain  ;  Shipman — 
John  Fischer;  Chesterfield — Amos  Goodsell ;  Western  Mound — William  C.  Ed- 
wards ;  Barr— J.  W.  Dalby ;  Scottville— William  Carling. 

1881. 

Staunton — Thomas  Funderburk  ;  Cahokia — Lewis  W.  Link ;  Honey  Point — 
William  N.  Gulp;  Shaw's  Point — John  J.  Womack;  Nilwood — George  W.  Bower- 
sox  ;  Girard — William  E.  Eastham  ;  Virden — John  G.  Smith  ;  Dorchester — Josiah 
Sawyer;  Gillespie — P.  H.  Pentzer;  Brushy  Mound — William  H.  Perrine;  Carlin- 
ville— John  W.  Hankins,  T.  G.  Moore ;  South  Otter— Moses  Yowell ;  North  Ot- 
ter— Enoch  Hall ;  Bunker  Hill — P.  C.  Huggins  ;  Hilyard — Henry  Morrison, 
Jr. ;  Polk — John  M.  Yowell ;  Bird — George  W.  Arnett ;  South  Palmyra — William 
M.  Esisex;  North  Palmyra — John  N.  Pinkerton ;  Brighton — E.  T.  Dain;  Ship- 
man — C.  E.  Wales;  Chesterfield — Amos  Goodsell;  Western  Mound — William  C. 
Edwards;  Barr — John  W.  Dalby;  Scottville — William  Carling,  Sr. 

1882. 

Staunton — Thomas  Funderburk;  Cahokia — L.  W.  Link;  Honey  Point — 
Marion  Ruyle;  Shaw's  Point — John  J.  Womack;  Nilwood — George  W.  Bower- 
sox;  Girard — Wilson  T.  Huff;  Virden — John  G.  Smith;  Dorchester — Josiah 
Sawyer;  Gillespie — P.  H.  Pentzer;  Brushy  Mound — August  Hacke;  Carlinville — 
John  W.  Hankins,  E.  Widaman;  South  Otter— Moses  Yowell;  North  Otter- 
Enoch  Hall ;  Bunker  Hill— P.  C.  Huggins  ;  Hilyard — Henry  Morrison,  Jr. ;  Folk- 
John  M.  Yowell;  Bird — George  W.  Arnett;  South  Palmyra — Charles  E.  Crumj 
North  Palmyra — John  N.  Pinkerton;  Brighton — E.  T.  Dain;  Shipman — William 
James ;  Chesterfield — Amos  Goodsell ;  Western  Mound — William  C.  Edwards ; 
Barr— John  W.  Dalby;  Scottville— William  Carling,  Sr. 

1883. 

Staunton — Cornelius  Godfrey  ;  Cahokia — H.  R.  Blevins ;  Honey  Point — 
Marion  Ruyle;  Shaw's  Point — John  J.  Womack;  Nilwood — Oscar  Smithson; 
Girard — William  E.  Eastham ;  Virden — John  G.  Smith ;  Dorchester — Josiah 
Sawyer ;  Gillespie — P.  H.  Pentzer ;  Brushy  Mound — August  Hacke ;  Carlinville 
—James  M.  Pruitt,  E.  Widaman;  South  Otter— William  Price;  North  Otter- 
Enoch  Hall;  Bunker  Hill — P.  C.  Huggins;  Hilyard — Henry  Morrison,  Jr.;  Polk 
— John  M.  Yowell;  Bird — George  W.  Arnett;  South  Palmyra — -William  Esisex; 
North  Palmyra — John  N.  Pinkerton ;  Shipman — William  James  ;  Chesterfield — 
Ed  F.  Corey ;  Western  Mound — William  C.  Edwards ;  Barr — John  W.  Dalby ; 
Scottville— S.  D.  Eades. 


136  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

In  1884  Staunton  township  was  divided  in  halves  by  drawing  a  line  through 
the  township  from  east  to  west.  The  north  half  was  named  Mount  Olive  town- 
ship and  has  since  been  known  and  designated  as  such. 

1884. 

Staunton — Cornelius  Godfrey;  Mt.  Olive — C.  J.  Keiser;  Cahokia — H.  B. 
Blevins ;  Honey  Point — Marion  Ruyle;  Shaw's  Point — John  J.  Womack;  Nil- 
wood — D.  C.  Enslow ;  Girard — Chris  C.  Armstrong ;  Virden — John  G.  Smith ; 
Dorchester — Josiah  Sawyer ;  Gillespie — P.  H.  Pentzer ;  Brushy  Mound — William 
H.  Perrine;  Carlinville — William  B.  Dugger,  E.  Widaman;  South  Otter — P.  L. 
Arnett;  North  Otter — John  G.  Hugler;  Bunker  Hill— P.  C.  Huggins;  Hilyard— 
Henry  Morrison,  Jr.;  Polk — E.  B.  Edwards;  Bird — George  M.  Arnett;  South 
Palmyra— James  W.  Duncan;  North  Palmyra — John  H.  Landreth;  Brighton — 
D.  D.  Goodell;  Shipman— Meshach  Shultz;  Chesterfield— E.  F.  Corey;  Western 
Mound — Elisha  Dawson ;  Barr — John  W.  Dalby ;  Scottville — William  Carling, 
Sr. 

1885. 

Staunton — Cornelius  Godfrey ;  Mt.  Olive — C.  J.  Keiser ;  Cahokia — E.  S. 
Holmes ;  Honey  Point — Marion  Ruyle ;  Shaw's  Point — L.  N.  English ;  Nilwood — 
David  C.  Enslow ;  Girard — John  Ball ;  Virden — Thomas  G.  Duckels ;  Dorchester 
— Josiah  Sawyer;  Gillespie — B.  P.  McDaniels;  Brushy  Mound — William  H.  Per- 
rine; Carlinville— William  B.  Dugger,  John  E.  Parrottet;  South  Otter— P.  L. 
Arnett;  North  Otter— Enoch  Hall;  Bunker  Hill — P.  C.  Huggins;  Hilyard— Har- 
ris Thomas;  Polk — W.  A.  Towse;  Bird — George  W.  Arnett;  South  Palmyra — 
Thomas  W.  Conlee ;  North  Palmyra — John  H.  Landreth ;  Brighton — D.  D. 
Goodell ;  Shipman — Mashach  Shultz ;  Chesterfield — E.  F.  Corey ;  Western  Mound 
—Elisha  Dawson  :  Barr — John  W.  Dalby ;  Scottville — Dred  Dugger. 

1886. 

Staunton — Archibald  Burns;  Mt.  Olive — C.  J.  Keiser;  Cahokia- — C.  Drennan  ; 
Honey  Point — W.  J.  Fuller;  Shaw's  Point— Joseph  Howard;  Nilwood — D.  C. 
Enslow ;  Girard — Fountain  L.  Thompson ;  Virden — John  G.  Smith ;  Dorchester — 
J.  H.  Bauer;  Gillespie — P.  H.  Pentzer;  Brushy  Mound — William  H.  Perrine;  Car- 
linville—J.  M.  Cohlepp,  Charles  S.  Patchen;  South  Otter— P.  L.  Arnett;  North 
Otter— D.  W.  Solomon;  Bunker  Hill— F.  C.  Zimmerman;  Hilyard— Harris 
Thomas;  Polk— W.  A.  Towse;  Bird — Samuel  E.  Killam;  South  Palmyra- 
Thomas  W.  Conlee;  North  Palmyra — R.  D.  Humphrey;  Brighton — D.  D.  Good- 
ell ;  Shipman — William  James  ;  Chesterfield — M.  J.  Huffman  ;  Western  Mound — 
John  Hagaman  ;  Barr — J.  W.  Dalby  ;  Scottville — Dred  Dugger. 

1887. 

Staunton — Archibald  Burns;  Mt.  Olive— C.  J.  Keiser;  Cahokia — Calvin  Dren- 
nan; Honey  Point — Robert  Wilson;  Shaw's  Point,  Zeph  Howard;  Nilwood— 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  137 

D.  C.  Enslow ;  Girard — C.  C  Armstrong ;  V irden — John  G.  Smith ;  Dorchester — 
J.  H.  Bauer;  Gillespie — William  J.  Steidley;  Brushy  Mound — August  Hacke; 
Carlinville — John  Lancaster,  W.  F.  Meiher ;  South  Otter — Thomas  Mahan ; 
North  Otter— W.  B.  Chapman;  Bunker  Hill — W.  O.  Jenks;  Hilyard — Henry 
Morrison;  Polk — W.  A.  Towse;  Bird — S.  E.  Killam;  South  Palmyra — G.  F. 
Fanning;  North  Palmyra — Daniel  Chapman;  Brighton — D.  D.  Goodell;  Ship- 
man — William  James;  Chesterfield — M.  J.  Huffman;  Western  Mound — John 
Hagaman ;  Barr — J.  W.  Dalby ;  Scottville — Dred  Dugger. 

1888. 


Staunton — Archibald  Burns;  Mt.  Olive — C.  J.  Keiser;  Cahokia — C.  Dren- 
nan ;  Honey  Point — Robert  Wilson ;  Shaw's  Point — A.  H.  McAlister ;  Nilwood— 
J.  H.  Bailey;  Girard — George  W.  Bowersox;  Virden — John  Gelder;  Dorchester 
— J.  H.  Bauer ;  Gillespie— W.  A.  Steidley ;  Brushy  Mound— W.  E.  Taylor ;  Car- 
linville—C.  S.  Patchen,  Henry  Leifers ;  South  Otter— William  T.  Conlee ;  North 
Otter— J.  A.  Wallace;  Bunker  Hill— W.  O.  Jenks;  Hilyard— Gill  S.  Brown; 
Polk — W.  D.  Reader ;  Bird — John  H.  Arnett ;  South  Palmyra — George  F.  Fan- 
ning; North  Palmyra — A.  J.  Drum;  Brighton — D.  D.  Goodell;  Shipman — J.  B. 
Andrews ;  Chesterfield — David  T.  Hall ;  Western  Mound — George  Etter ;  Barr 
— J.  W.  Dalby  :  Scottville — Dred  Drugger. 

1889. 

Staunton — Cornelius  Godfrey;  Mt.  Olive — C.  J.  Keiser;  Cahokia — Calvin 
Drennan  ;  Honey  Point — M.  E.  Hart;  Shaw's  Point — George  Dooley;  Nilwood — 
J.  H.  Bailey ;  Girard — S.  McKnight ;  Virden — John  Gelder ;  Dorchester — Nathan 
Smith;  Gillespie — W.  A.  Steidley;  Brushy  Mound — W.  E.  Taylor;  Carlinville — 
C.  W.  Gray,  J.  E.  Parrottet ;  South  Otter— W.  T.  Conlee ;  North  Otter— John  G. 
Hugler;  Bunker  Hill— James  Rumbolz;  Hilyard— J.  F.  Schultz;  Polk— W.  E. 
Sanders;  Bird — John  H.  Arnett;  South  Palmyra — George  F.  Fanning;  North 
Palmyra — A.  J.  Drum ;  Brighton — D.  D.  Goodell ;  Shipman — M.  Schultz ;  Ches- 
terfield—D.  T.  Hall;  Western  Mound— George  Etter;  Barr— J.  W.  Dalby;  Scott- 
ville— Dred  Dugger. 

1890. 

Staunton— H.  W.  Wall;  Mt.  Olive— Frank  Friede;  Cahokia— C.  Drennan; 
Honey  Point— R.  D.  Wilson;  Shaw's  Point— A.  H.  McAlister;  Nilwood — J.  H. 
Bailey;  Girard — George  W!  Bowersox;  Virden — Richard  Ball;  Dorchester — Na- 
than Smith  ;  Gillespie — W.  A.  Steidley ;  Brushy  Mound — August  Hacke ;  Carlin- 
ville—C.  W.  Gray,  J.  E.  Parrottet;  South  Otter— W.  T.  Conlee;  North  Otter- 
William  M.  Drennan;  Bunker  Hill — James  Rumbolz;  Hilyard — J.  F.  Schultz; 
Polk— Daniel  E.  Witt ;  Bird— Robert  Whiteley ;  South  Palmyra— T.  W.  Conlee ; 
North  Palmyra— J.  B.  Vancil ;  Brighton — Dr.  J.  T.  Dickerson ;  Shipman — Steven 


138  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Candler ;  Chesterfield— D.  T.  Hall ;  Western  Mound— George  Etter ;  Barr— J.  W. 
Dalby ;  Scottville — Dred  Dugger. 

1891. 

Staunton — H.  W.  Wall;  Mt.  Olive— Frank  Friede;  Cahokia— C.  Drennan; 
Honey  Point— W.  C.  Dey;  Shaw's  Point— A.  H.  McAlister;  Nilwood— J.  H. 
Bailey;  Girard — George  W.  Bowersox;  Virden — Richard  Ball;  Dorchester — 
Nathan  Smith;  Gillespie — W.  A.  Steidley;  Brushy  Mound — W.  H.  Perrine; 
Carlinville — C.  W.  Gray,  J.  E.  Parrottet;  South  Otter— W.  T.  Conlee;  North 
Otter— William  M.  Drennan;  Bunker  Hill— R.  H.  Wood;  Hilyard— J.  F. 
Schultz;  Polk — W.  E.  Sanders;  Bird — Robert  Whiteley;  South  Palmyra— John 
W.  Duncan;  North  Palmyra — J.  B.  Vancil;  Brighton — J.  T.  Dickerson;  Ship- 
man — M.  Schultz;  Chesterfield — D.  T.  Hall;  Western  Mound — John  Hagaman; 
Barr — John  W.  Dalby;  Scottville — Dred  Dugger. 

1892. 

Staunton — H.  W.  Wall;  Mt.  Olive — A.  J.  Keiser;  Cahokia — Calvin  Drennan; 
Honey  Point — W.  C.  Dey ;  Shaw's  Point — J.  P.  Enslow ;  Nilwood — J.  H.  Bailey ; 
Girard — George  W.  Bowersox ;  Virden — Walter  Kirkpatrick ;  Dorchester — 
Nathan  Smith ;  Gillespie — W.  A.  Steidley ;  Brushy  Mound — W.  H.  Perrine ; 
Carlinville— B.  M.  Burke,  J.  E.  Parrottet;  South  Otter— W.  T.  Conlee;  North 
Otter— William  M.  Drennan;  Bunker  Hill— R.  H.  Wood;  Hilyard— William 
Meehan ;  Polk — W.  E.  Sanders ;  Bird — Cicero  J.  Solomon ;  South  Palmyra — 
John  W.  Duncan ;  North  Palmyra — J.  B.  Vancil ;  Brighton — J.  T.  Dickerson ; 
Shipman — M.  Schultz ;  Chesterfield — Samuel  Barnstable ;  Western  Mound — John 
Hagaman;  Barr — John  W.  Dalby;  Scottville — James  A.  Sims. 

1893. 

Staunton — R.  A.  Hoxey;  Mt.  Olive — A.  J.  Keiser;  Cahokia— Calvin  Dren- 
nan; Honey  Point— W.  N.  Gulp;  Shaw's  Point— W.  C.  Dey;  Nilwood— J.  H. 
Bailey ;  Girard — George  W.  Bowersox ;  Virden — Walter  Kirkpatrick ;  Dorchester 
— Nathan  Smith;  Gillespie — W.  H.  Whitefield;  Brushy  Mound — August  Hacke; 
Carlinville— John  E.  Parrottet,  B.  M.  Burke ;  South  Otter— W.  T.  Conlee ;  North 
Otter — William  M.  Drennan ;  Bunker  Hill— A.  D.  Wood ;  Hilyard— William  Mee- 
han; Polk — W.  E.  Sanders;  Bird — Cicero  J.  Solomon;  South  Palmyra — E.  C. 
Crouch;  North  Palmyra — Charles  S.  Steidley;  Brighton — John  E.  Andrews; 
Shipman — M.  Schultz ;  Chesterfield — Samuel  Barnstable ;  Western  Mound — Will- 
iam Davis;  Barr — John  W.  Dalby;  Scottville — James  A.  Sims. 

1894- 

Staunton — R.  A.  Hoxey ;  Mt.  Olive — Frank  Helmbold ;  Cahokia — H.  W.  Rice ; 
Honey  Point — W.  N.  Gulp ;  Shaw's  Point — S.  B.  Dugger ;  Nilwood — J.  H. 
Bailey;  Girard — Isaac  F.  Gibson;  Virden — W.  Kirkpatrick;  Dorchester — Nathan 
Smith  ;  Gillespie — W.  H.  Whitefield ;  Brushy  Mound — August  Hacke ;  Carlin- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  139 

ville—  John  F.  Kasten,  B.  M.  Burke  ;  South  Otter—  W.  T.  Conlee  ;  North  Otter- 
John  A.  Wallace;  Bunker  Hill—  A.  D.  Wood;  Hilyard.—  Daniel  H.  Combes; 
Polk—  W.  E.  Sanders;  Bird—  C.  J.  Solomon;  South  Palmyra—  E.  C.  Crouch; 
North  Palmyra  —  Charles  S.  Steidley;  Brighton  —  John  E.  Andrews;  Shipman  — 
M.  Schultz  ;  Chesterfield  —  Samuel  Barnstable  ;  Western  Mound  —  William  Davis  ; 
Barr—  John  W.  Dalby;  Scottville—  S.  E.  Ruyle. 


Staunton  —  A.  Burns  ;  Mt.  Olive  —  Frank  Helmbold  ;  Cahokia  —  H.  W.  Rice  ; 
Honey  Point  —  Guy  A.  Snell;  Shaw's  Point  —  S.  B.  Dugger;  Nilwood  —  J.  H. 
Bailey;  Girard  —  Isaac  F.  Gibson;  Virden  —  W.  Kirkpatrick;  Dorchester  — 
Nathan  Smith  ;  Gillespie  —  William  Fuess  ;  Brushy  Mound  —  August  Hacke  ; 
Carlinville  —  J.  F.  Kasten,  B.  M.  Burke  ;  South  Otter—  William  T.  Conlee  ;  North 
Otter—  John  A.  Wallace;  Bunker  Hill—  R.  H.  Wood;  Gillespie  —  Daniel  H. 
Combes  ;  Polk  —  ;W.  Sanders  ;  Bird  —  C.  J.  Solomon  ;  South  Palmyra  —  J.  M.  Dun- 
can ;  North  Palmyra  —  C.  L.  Steidley  ;  Brighton  —  John  E.  Andrews  ;  Shipman  — 
J.  T.  Darnielle;  Chesterfield  —  Samuel  Barnstable;  Western  Mound  —  John  Haga- 
man  ;  Barr—  J.  W.  Dalby  ;  Scottville—  S.  E.  Ruyle. 

1896. 

Staunton—  A.  Burns;  Mt.  Olive  —  W.  H.  Whitehouse;  Cahokia—  H.  W.  Rice; 
Honey  Point  —  Guy  Snell;  Shaw's  Point—  C.  W.  Switzer;  Nilwood—  G.  W. 
Denby;  Girard  —  C.  E.  Burnett;  Virden  —  G.  M.  Chidester;  Dorchester  —  L.  S. 
Mize;  Gillespie  —  W.  J.  Fuess;  Brushy  Mound  —  August  Hacke;  Carlinville  — 
J.  F.  Kasten,  B.  M.  Burke;  South  Otter—  W.  T.  Conlee;  North  Otter—  R.  E. 
Alford;  Bunker  Hill—  R.  H.  Wood;  Hilyard—  W.  J.  Donahue;  Polk—  W.  E. 
Sanders;  Bird  —  W.  A.  Craggs;  South  Palmyra  —  J.  M.  Duncan;  North  Pal- 
myra —  C.  :L.  Steidley  ;  Brighton  —  John  E.  Andrews  ;  Shipman  —  J.  T.  Darnielle  ; 
Chesterfield  —  J.  H.  Duckies  ;  Western  Mound  —  John  Hagaman  ;  Barr  —  J.  W. 
Dalby  ;  Scottville  —  J.  A.  Turner. 

1897. 

Staunton  —  W.  C.  Seehausen;  Mt.  Olive—  W.  H.  Whitehouse;  Cahokia—  H. 
W.  Rice:  Honey  Point—  H.  I.  Masters;  Shaw's  Point—  C.  W.  Switzer;  Nil- 
wood  —  G.  W.  Denby  ;  Girard  —  C.  E.  Burnett  ;  Virden  —  G.  M.  Chidester  ;  Dor- 
chester —  L.  S.  Mize  ;  Gillespie  —  William  J.  Fuess  ;  Brushy  Mound  —  Clinton  Da- 
vis ;  Carlinville—  John  F.  Kasten,  B.  M.  Burke;  South  Otter—  W.  T.  Conlee; 
North  Otter—  R.  E.  Alford;  Bunker  Hill—  R.  H.  Wood;  Hilyard—  W.  J.  Don- 
ahue ;  Polk—  W.  E.  Sanders  ;  Bird—  W.  A.  Craggs  ;  South  Palmyra—  J.  W.  Dun- 
can ;  North  Palmyra  —  J.  J.  Sims  ;  Brighton  —  Spencer  Brown  ;  Shipman  —  J.  T. 
Darnielle;  Chesterfield  —  J.  S.  Duckies;  Western  Mound—  John  Hagaman; 
Barr—  J.  W.  Dalby;  Scottville—  J.  A.  Turner. 


Staunton — W.   C.   Seehausen  ;   Mt.   Olive — Frank  Friede ;  Cahokia — H.  W. 
Rice ;  Honey  Point — H.  I.  Masters ;  Shaw's  Point— A.  H.  McAlister ;  Nilwood — 


140  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

John  H.  Bailey;  Girard — George  L.  Tipton ;  Virden — George  H.  Westlake;  Dor- 
chester— David  Thompson;  Gillespie — W.  J.  Fuess;  Brushy  Mound — Clinton 
Davis ;  Carlinville— B.  M.  Burke,  John  F.  Kasten ;  South  Otter — S.  T.  Carmody ; 
North  Otter— R.  E.  Alford ;  Bunker  Hill— R.  H.  Wood ;  Hilyard— H.  M.  Cof- 
fee; Polk— W.  E.  Sanders;  Bird— G.  W.  Rhoades;  South  Palmyra— J.  W.  Dun- 
can; North  Palmyra — J.  J.  Sims;  Brighton — M.  S.  Brown;  Shipman — H.  S. 
Eaton ;  Chesterfield — James  Sawtelle ;  Western  Mound — John  Hagaman ;  Barr — 
J.  W.  Dalby ;  Scottville— J.  A.  Turner. 

1899. 

Staunton — A.  Burns  ;  Mt.  Olive — Frank  Friede  ;  Cahokia — H.  W.  Rice ; 
Honey  Point — H.  I.  Masters ;  Shaw's  Point — A.  H.  McAlister ;  Nilwood — John 
H.  Bailey ;  Girard — George  L.  Tipton ;  Virden — George  H.  Westlake ;  Dorches- 
ter— David  Thompson ;  Gillespie — W.  J.  Fuess ;  Brushy  Mound — George  C. 
Walton;  Carlinville— B.  M.  Burke,  J.  F.  Kasten;  South  Otter— S.  F.  Carmody; 
North  Otter— R.  E.  Alford;  Bunker  Hill— R.  H.  Wood;  Hilyard— H.  M.  Coffee; 
Polk— L.  B.  Corbin;  Bird— G.  W.  Rhoades;  South  Palmyra— R.  E.  Crum; 
North  Palmyra — J.  J.  Sims;  Brighton — James  J.  Kelsey;  Shipman — H.  S.  Eaton; 
Chesterfield — James  Sawtelle ;  Western  Mound — H.  C.  Duckies ;  Barr — J.  W. 
Dalby ;  Scottville — J.  A.  Turner. 

1900. 

Staunton— A.  Burns;  Mt.  Olive — A.  H.  Fuchs ;  Cahokia— H.  W.  Rice;  Honey 
Point — H.  I.  Masters;  Shaw's  Point — C.  B.  Crabtree;  Nilwood — James  D.  Stead; 
Girard — S.  S.  Huber ;  Virden— Walter  Kirkpatrick ;  Dorchester— D.  M.  Thomp- 
son; Gillespie — W.  J.  Fuess;  Brushy  Mound — George  C.  Walton;  Carlinville — 
Robert  S.  Hemphill,  J.  F.  Kasten ;  -South  Otter — S.  F.  Carmody ;  North  Otter— 
R.  E.  Alford ;  Bunker  Hill— R.  H.  Wood ;  Hilyard— H.  M.  Coffee ;  Polk— L.  B. 
Corbin ;  Bird — J.  M.  Sacre ;  South  Palmyra — R.  E.  Crum ;  North  Palmyra — 
J.  J.  Sims ;  Brighton — James  J.  Kelsey ;  Shipman — H.  S.  Eaton ;  Chesterfield — 
J.  R.  Duckies;  Western  Mound— H.  C.  Duckies;  Barr — J.  W.  Dalby;  Scott- 
ville—J.  A.  Turner. 

1901. 

Staunton — Henry  Burns;  Mt.  Olive — A.  H.  Fuchs;  Cahokia — H.  W.  Rice; 
Honey  Point — Charles  York ;  Shaw's  Point — C.  B.  Crabtree ;  Nilwood — James 
D.  Stead;  Girard— S.  S.  Huber;  Virden — Walter  Kirkpatrick;  Dorchester— D. 
M.  Thompson  ;  Gillespie — W.  J.  Fuess ;  Brushy  Mound — Clinton  Davis ;  Carlin- 
ville—Robert  S.  Hemphill,  J.  F.  Kasten ;  South  Otter— S.  T.  Carmody ;  North 
Otter— R.  E.  Alford;  Bunker  Hill— R.  H.  Wood;  Hilyard— H.  M.  Coffee: 
Polk— J.  W.  Anderson ;  Bird— J.  M.  Sacre ;  South  Palmyra— R.  T.  Ross ;  North 
Palmyra — V.  E.  King ;  Brighton — J.  E.  Andrews  ;  Shipman — M.  B.  Thompson  ; 
Chesterfield— J.  R.  Duckies ;  Western  Mound— Elmo  Etter ;  Barr— J.  W.  Dalby  : 
Scottville — J.  A.  Turner. 

1902. 

Staunton — Henry  Burns  ;  Mt.  Olive — Jacob  Klein  ;  Cahokia — H.  W.  Rice  ; 
Honey  Point — Charles  York ;  Shaw's  Point — C.  B.  Crabtree ;  Nilwood — James 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  141 

D.  Stead  ;  Girard — John  J.  Stowe  ;  Virden — Henry  Noll ;  Dorchester — David 
Thompson  ;  Gillespie — George  G.  Enslow  ;  Brushy  Mound — Clinton  Davis ;  Car- 
linville— Robert  S.  Hemphill,  D.  M.  Bates;  South  Otter— S.  T.  Carmody;  North 
Otter— R.  E.  Alford ;  Bunker  Hill— R.  H.  Wood ;  Hilyard— Samuel  Drew ;  Polk— 
J.  W.  Anderson;  Bird— J.  M.  Sacre;  South  Palmyra— R.  T.  Ross;  North  Pal- 
myra— V.  E.  King ;  Brighton — J.  E.  Andrews ;  Shipman — M.  B.  Thompson ; 
Chesterfield — Elmer  Day;  Western  Mound — Elmo  Etter;  Barr— J.  W.  Dalby; 
Scottville — J.  A.  Turner. 

1903. 

Staunton — George  Luker;  Mt.  Olive — Jacob  Klein;  Cahokia — H.  W.  Rice; 
Honey  Point — Charles  York;  Shaw's  Point — C.  B.  Crabtree;  Nilwood — James 
D.  Stead ;  Girard — John  J.  Stowe ;  Virden — Henry  Noll ;  Dorchester — David 
Thompson;  Gillespie — P.  H.  Dorsey;  Brushy  Mound — August  Hacke;  Carlin- 
ville— Robert  S.  Hemphill,  D.  M.  Bates;  South  Otter— S.  T.  Carmody;  North 
Otter— R.  E.  Alford;  Bunker  Hill— Joseph  Welch;  Hilyard— Samuel  Drew; 
Polk— J.  W.  Anderson ;  Bird— J.  M.  Sacre ;  South  Palmyra— R.  T.  Ross ;  North 
Palmyra— V.  E.  King;  Brighton— D.  D.  Goodell;  Shipman— Fred  H.  Kohl; 
Chesterfield — Elmer  Day;  Western  Mound — Elmo  Etter;  Barr — J.  W.  Dalby; 
Scottville — J.  A.  Turner. 

1904. 

Staunton — George  Luker;  Mt.  Olive — Henry  Engleman;  Cahokia — H.  W. 
Rice;  Honey  Point — Charles  York;  Shaw's  Point — C.  B.  Crabtree;  Nilwood — 
Frank  B.  Huber;  Girard — J.  J.  Stowe;  Virden — Walter  Kirkpatrick;  Dorches- 
ter— D.  M.  Thompson ;  Gillespie — P.  H.  Dorsey ;  Brushy  Mound — August 
Hacke ;  Carlinville— Robert  S.  Hemphill,  D.  M.  Bates ;  South  Otter— S.  T.  Car- 
mody; North  Otter — William  A.  Gardner;  Bunker  Hill — Joseph  Welch;  Hil- 
yard— Samuel  Drew;  Polk — J.  W.  Anderson;  Bird — George  Duckies;  South 
Palmyra— R.  T.  Ross;  North  Palmyra— V.  E.  King;  Brighton— D.  D.  Goodell; 
Shipman — Fred  H.  Kohl ;  Chesterfield — E.  E.  Day ;  Western  Mound — Elmo  Et- 
ter ;  Barr— J.  W.  Dalby ;  Scottville— J.  'A'.  Turner. 


1905. 

Staunton — P.  H.  Carroll;  Mt.  Olive — Henry  Engleman;  Cahokia — H.  W. 
Rice;  Honey  Point — W.  E.  Sharp;  Shaw's  Point — C.  B.  Crabtree;  Nilwood — 
Frank  B.  Huber;  Girard — J.  J.  Stowe;  Virden — Walter  Kirkpatrick;  Dorches- 
ter— D.  M.  Thompson;  Gillespie — M.  W.  Clark;  Brushy  Mound — Louis  Miller; 
Carlinville— Robert  S.  Hemphill,  D.  M.  Bates;  South  Otter— S.  T.  Carmody; 
North  Otter— William  A.  Gardner ;  Bunker  Hill— J.  H.  Welch ;  Hilyard— Sam- 
uel Drew ;  Polk — F.  L.  Rhoades ;  Bird — George  Duckies ;  South  Palmyra — R.  T. 
Ross ;  North  Palmyra — R.  L.  Conlee ;  Brighton — W.  W.  Rhoades ;  Shipman — 


142  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

F.  H.  Kohl ;  Chesterfield— E.  E.  Day ;  Western  Mound— Elmo  Etter ;  Barr— J. 
W.  Dalby;  Scottville— J.  A.  Turner. 

1906. 

Staunton — P.  H.  Carroll ;  Mt.  Olive — Henry  Engleman  ;  Cahokia — H.  W. 
Rice ;  Honey  Point — E.  D.  Nantz ;  Shaw's  Point — C.  B.  Crabtree ;  Nilwood — 
F.  B.  Huber ;  Girard — T.  W.  Brendle ;  Virden — Charles  Muhlenbeck  ;  Dorches- 
ter— D.  M.  Thompson;  Gillespie — W.  N.  Clark;  Brushy  Mound — Louis  Miller; 
Carlinville — R.  S.  Hemphill,  D.  M.  Bates;  South  Otter— S.  T.  Carmody;  North 
Otter— R.  E.  Alford ;  Bunker  Hill— J.  H.  Welch ;  Hilyard— D.  M.  Wadsworth ; 
Polk— F.  L.  Rhoades ;  Bird— Q.  H.  Bates ;  South  Palmyra— R.  T.  Ross ;  North 
Palmyra— R.  L.  Conlee;  Brighton— W.  W.  Rhoades;  Shipman— F.  H.  Kohl; 
Chesterfield— James  W.  Hall ;  Western  Mound— Elmo  Etter ;  Barr— J.  W.  Dalby ; 
Scottville — J.  A.  Turner. 

1907. 

Staunton — P.  H.  Carroll;  Mt.  Olive — Henry  Engleman;  Cahokia — H.  W. 
Rice;  Honey  Point — W.  E.  Sharp;  Shaw's  Point — C.  B.  Crabtree;  Nilwood — 
F.  B.  Huber;  Girard— T.  W.  Brendle;  Virden — Charles  Muhlenbeck;  Dorches- 
ter— D.  M.  Thompson;  Gillespie — M.  W.  Clark;  Brushy  Mound — John  T. 
Glower;  Carlinville— D.  M.  Bates,  R.  S.  Hemphill;  South  Otter— S.  T.  Car- 
mody; North  Otter— R.  E.  Alford;  Bunker  Hill— J.  H.  Welch;  Hilyard— D.  M. 
Wadsworth;  Polk — Benjamin  Woods;  Bird — Q.  H.  Bates;  South  Palmyra — 
R.  T.  Ross ;  North  Palmyra — August  Zelmer ;  Brighton — John  W.  Darlington  ; 
Shipman— F.  H.  Kohl ;  Chesterfield— James  W.  Hall ;  Western  Mound— William 
Killam ;  Barr— W.  C.  Huson ;  Scottville— J.  A.  Turner. 

1908. 

Staunton— P.  H.  Carroll;  Mt.  Olive — L.  C.  Reilly;  Cahokia— H.  W.  Rice; 
Honey  Point — W.  E.  Sharp ;  Shaw's  Point — E.  D.  Nantz ;  Nilwood — F.  B. 
Huber;  Girard — T.  W.  Brendle;  Virden — Charles  Muhlenbeck;  Dorchester — 
D.  M.  Thompson;  Gillespie — M.  W.  Clark;  Brushy  Mound — John  T.  Glower; 
Carlinville — R.  S.  Hemphill,  D.  M.  Bates;  South  Otter— S.  T.  Carmody;  North 
Otter— R.  E.  Alford ;  Bunker  Hill— J.  H.  Welch ;  Hilyard— R.  D.  Roach ;  Polk 
— Benjamin  Woods  ;  Bird — Q.  H.  Bates ;  South  Palmyra — R.  T.  Ross ;  North 
Palmyra — August  Zelmer  ;  Brighton — John  W.  Darlington  ;  Shipman — F.  H. 
Kohl;  Chesterfield— E.  E.  Day;  Western  Mound— William  Killam;  Barr— W. 
C.  Huson ;  Scottville — J.  A.  Turner. 

1909. 

Staunton— Charles  W.  Soapes ;  Mt.  Olive— L.  C.  Reilly;  Cahokia— H.  W. 
Rice  ;  Honey  Point — Charles  Bruce ;  Shaw's  Point — E.  D.  Nantz ;  Nilwood — 
F.  B.  Huber ;  Girard — T.  W.  Brendle  ;  Virden — Charles  Muhlenbeck  ;  Dorchester 
— D.  M.  Thompson;  Gillespie— M.  W.  Clark;  Brushy  Mound— W.  P.  Kaleher; 
Carlinville— D.  M.  Bates,  R.  S.  Hemphill ;  South  Otter— S.  T.  Carmody ;  North 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  143 

Otter— R.  E.  Alford;  Bunker  Hill — Charles  Schoeneman ;  Hilyard — R.  D. 
Rhoades;  Polk— William  H.  Robinson;  Bird — Q.  H.  Bates;  South  Palmyra— 
R.  T.  Ross;  North  Palmyra— George  W.  Stults;  Brighton— W.  W.  Rhoades; 
Shipman — Samuel  French;  Chesterfield — E.  E.  Day;  Western  Mound — George 
Bauer;  Barr — W.  D.  Huson;  Scottville — J.  A.  Turner. 

1910. 

i 

Staunton — Charles  W.  Soapes;  Mt.  Olive — A.  R.  Scheiler;  Cahokia — H.  W. 
Rice;  Honey  Point — Charles  Bruce;  Shaw's  Point — C.  B.  Crabtree;  Nilwood — . 
F.  B.  Huber;  Girard— T.  W.  Brendle;  Virden— Charles  Muhlenbeck ;  Dorches- 
ter— D.  M.  Thompson;  Gillespie — M.  W.  Clark;  Brushy  Mound — W.  P.  Kale- 
her;  Carlinville— R.  S.  Hemphill,  D.  M.  Bates;  South  Otter— S.  T.  Carmody; 
North  Otter — R.  E.  Alford ;  Bunker  Hill— Charles  Schoeneman ;  Hilyard— C.  M. 
Bullman ;  Polk — William  H.  Robinson ;  Bird — A.  H.  Bates ;  South  Palmyra — 
R.  T.  Ross;  North  Palmyra— George  W.  Stults;  Brighton— W.  W.  Rhoades; 
Shipman — Samuel  French;  Chesterfield — John  H.  Duckies;  Western  Mound — 
George  Bauer ;  Barr — W.  D.  Huson ;  Scottville — John  A.  Turner. 

1911. 

Staunton — C.  W.  Soapes,  C.  Godfrey;  Mt.  Olive — Arno  Scheiter;  Cahokia — 
H.  W.  Rice;  Honey  Point— Charles  Bruce;  Shaw's  Point— C.  B.  Crabtree;  Nil- 
wood — F.  B.  Huber;  Girard — T.  W.  Brendle;  Virden — C.  Muhlenbeck;  Dor- 
chester— D.  M.  Thompson;  Gillespie — George  W.  Behrens;  Brushy  Mound — 
William  P.  Kaleher;  Carlinville— R.  S.  Hemphill,  D.  M.  Bates;  South  Otter— 
T.  B.  Weller;  North  Otter— R.  E.  Alford;  Bunker  Hill— C.  Schoeneman;  Hil- 
yard—Charles  Bullman;  Polk— W.  H.  Robinson;  Bird— Q.  H.  Bates;  South 
Palymra— R.  T.  Ross;  North  Palmyra— George  W.  Stults;  Brighton— W.  W. 
Rhoades ;  Shipman — G.  G.  Reno ;  Chesterfield — J.  H.  Duckies ;  Western  Mound — 
George  Rauer;  Barr — S.  M.  Hicks;  Scottville — J.  A.  Turner. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
THE  PRIMITIVE. 

THIS    CHAPTER    TELLS    OF    HOW    THE    PIONEER    MANAGED   TO    LIVE ALSO    HOW    THE 

EARLY    SETTLER    ENDURED    MANY    HARDSHIPS    AND    PRIVATIONS HEROISM    AND 

FORTITUDE   OF    NOBLE    WOMEN,    THEIR    SACRIFICES   AND    WONDERFUL    RESOURCE- 
FULNESS  THEY  WERE  BRAVE,  TOO,  IN  THE  FACE  OF  DANGER. 

So  rapid  has  been  the  improvement  in  machinery,  and  the  progress  in  the  arts 
and  their  application  to  the  needs  of  man,  that  a  study  of  the  manner  in  which 
people  lived  and  worked  only  three-fourths  of  a  century  ago  seems  like  the  study 
of  a  remote  age. 

It  is  important  to  remember  that  while  a  majority  of  settlers  were  poor,  that 
poverty  carried  with  it  no  crushing  sense  of  degradation  like  that  felt  by  the  very 
poor  of  our  age.  They  lived  in  a  cabin,  it  is  true,  but  it  was  their  own  and  had 
been  reared  by  their  hands.  Their  house,  too,  while  inconvenient  and  far  from 
water  proof,  was  built  in  the  prevailing  style  of  architecture  and  would  compare 
favorably  with  the  homes  of  their  neighbors. 

They  were  destitute  of  many  of  the  conveniences  of  life,  and  of  some  things 
that  are  now  considered  necessaries,  but  they  patiently  endured  their  lot  and 
hopefully  looked  forward  to  better.  They  had  plenty  to  wear  as  protection  against 
the  weather,  and  an  abundance  of  wholesome  food.  They  sat  down  to  a  rude 
table  to  eat  from  tin  or  pewter  dishes,  but  the  meat  thereon — the  flesh  of  the  deer 
or  bear,  of  the  wild  duck  or  turkey,  of  the  quail  or  squirrel — was  superior  to  that 
we  eat,  and  had  been  won  by  the  skill  of  the  head  of  the  house  or  of  that  of  his 
vigorous  sons.  The  bread  they  ate  was  made  from  corn  or  wheat  of  their  own 
raising.  They  walked  the  green  carpet  of  the  grand  prairie  or  forest  that  sur- 
rounded them,  not  with  the  air  of  a  beggar,  but  with  the  elastic  step  of  a  self- 
respected  freeman. 

The  settler  brought  with  him  the  keen  ax,  which  was  indispensable,  and  the 
equally  necessary  rifle — the  first  his  weapon  of  offence  against  the  forests  that 
skirted  the  water  courses,  and  near  which  he  made  his  home ;  the  second  that  of 
defence  from  the  attacks  of  his  foe,  the  cunning  child  of  the  forest  and  prairie. 
His  first  labor  was  to  fell  trees  and  erect  his  unpretentious  cabin,  which  was 
rudely  made  of  logs,  and  in  the  raising  of  which  he  had  the  cheerful  aid  of  his 
neighbors.  It  was  usually  from  fourteen  to  sixteen  feet  square,  and  never  larger 
than  twenty  feet,  and  was  frequently  built  entirely  without  glass,  nails,  hinges  or 
locks. 

144 


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OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  145 

The  manner  of  building  was  as  follows :  First  large  logs  were  laid  in  position 
as  sills;  on  these  were  placed  strong  sleepers,  and  on  the  sleepers  were  laid  the 
rough  hewed  puncheons,  which  were  to  serve  as  floors.  The  logs  were  then  built 
up  till  the  proper  height  for  the  eaves  was  reached ;  then  on  the  ends  of  the  build- 
ing were  placed  poles,  longer  than  the  other  end  logs,  which  projected  some  eigh- 
teen or  more  inches  over  the  sides,  and  were  called  "butting  pole  sleepers ;"  on  the 
projecting  ends  of  these  was  placed  the  "butting  pole,"  which  served  to  give  the 
line  to  the  first  row  of  clapboards.  These  were,  as  a  matter  of  cpurse,  split,  and 
as  the  gables  of  the  cabin  were  built  up,  were  so  laid  on  as  to  lap  a  third  of  their 
length.  They  were  often  kept  in  place  by  the  weight  of  a  heavy  pole,  which  was 
laid' across  the  roof  parallel  to  the  ridge  pole.  The  house  was  then  chinked  and 
daubed  with  a  coarse  mortar. 

A  huge  fire  place  was  built  in  at  one  end  of  the  house,  in  which  fire  was 
kindled  for  cooking  purposes,  for  the  settlers  generally  were  without  stoves,  and 
which  furnished  warmth  in  winter.  The  ceiling  above  was  sometimes  covered 
with  the  pelts  of  the  raccoon,  opossum,  and  of  the  wolf,  to  aid  to  the  warmth  of 
the  dwelling.  Sometimes  the  soft  inner  bark  of  the  bass  wood  was  used  for  the 
same  purpose.  The  cabin  was  lighted  by  means  of  greased  paper  windows.  A 
log  would  be  left  out  along  one  side  and  sheets  of  strong  paper,  well  greased 
with  coon  grease  or  bear  oil,  would  be  carefully  tacked  in. 

The  above  description  only  applies  to  the  very  earliest  times,  before  the  rattle 
of  the  sawmill  was  heard  within  our  borders. 

The  furniture  comported  admirably  with  the  house  itself,  and  hence,  if  not 
elegant,  was  in  most  perfect  taste.  The  tables  had  four  legs  and  were  rudely 
made  from  a  puncheon.  Their  seats  were  stools,  having  three  or  four  legs.  The 
bedstead  was  in  keeping  with  the  rest,  and  was  often  so  contrived  as  to  permit  it 
to  be  drawn  up  and  fastened  to  the  wall  during  the  day,  thus  affording  more 
room  to  the  family.  The  entire  furniture  was  simple  and  was  framed  with  no 
other  tools  than  the  ax  and  auger.  Each  was  his  own  carpenter,  and  some  dis- 
played considerable  ingenuity  in  the  construction  of  implements  of  agriculture 
and  utensils,  and  furniture  for  the  house.  Sometimes  they  had  knives  and  forks 
and  sometimes  they  had  not.  The  common  table  knife  was  the  pack  knife  or 
butcher  knife.  Horse  collars  were  sometimes  made  of  the  plaited  husk  of  the 
maize  sewed  together.  They  were  easy  on  the  neck  of  the  horse,  and  if  tug 
traces  were  used,  would  last  a  long  time.  Horses  were  not  used  much,  how- 
ever, and  oxen  were  almost  exclusively  used.  In  some  instances  carts  and 
wagons  were  constructed  or  repaired  by  the  self-reliant  settler,  and  the  woeful 
creakings  of  the  untarred  axles  could  be  heard  at  a  great  distance. 

The  women  corresponded  well  with  the  description  of  the  virtuous  woman  in 
the  last  chapter  of  Proverbs,  for  they  "sought  wool  and  flax,  and  worked  willingly 
with  their  hands."  They  did  not,  it  is  true,  make  for  themselves  "coverings  of 
tapestry,"  nor  could  it  be' said  of  them  that  their  "clothing  was  silk  and  purple;" 
but  they  "rose  while  it  was  yet  night,  and  gave  meat  to  their  household,"  and  they 
"girded  their  loins  with  strength  and  strengthened  their  arms."  They  "looked 
well  to  the  ways  of  their  household  and  ate  not  the  bread  of  idleness."  They 
laid  "their  hands  to  the  spindle  and  to  the  distaff,"  and  "strength  and  honor 
were  in  their  clothing." 
Vol.  i— :o 


146  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

In  these  days  of  furbelows  and  flounces,  it  is  refreshing  to  know  that  the 
ladies  of  that  ancient  time  considered  eight  yards  an  extravagant  amount  to  put  in 
a  dress.  The  dress  was  usually  made  plain  with  four  widths  in  the  skirt,  the  two 
front  ones  cut  gored.  The  waist  was  made  very  short,  and  across  the  shoulders 
behind  was  a  draw  string.  The  sleeves  were  enormously  large  and  tapered  from 
shoulder  to  wrist,  and  the  most  fashionable — for  fashion,  like  love,  rules  alike  the 
"court  and  grove" — were  padded  so  as  to  resemble  a  bolster  at  the  upper  part  and 
were  known  as  "mutton  legs,"  or  "sheep  shank"  sleeves.  The  sleeve  was  often 
kept  in  place  by  a  heavily  starched  lining.  Those  who  could  afford  it  used 
feathers,  which  gave  the  sleeve  the  appearance  of  an  inflated  balloon  from  elbow 
up,  and  were  known  as  "pillow"  sleeves. 

Many  bows  and  some  ribbons  were  worn,  but  scarcely  any  jewelry.  The  tow 
dress  was  superseded  by  the  cotton  gown.  Around  the  neck,  instead  of  a  lace 
collar  or  elegant  ribbon,  there  was  disposed  a  copperas  colored  neckkerchief. 

In  going  to  church  or  other  public  gatherings  in  summer  weather,  they  some- 
times walked  barefoot  till  near  their  destination,  when  they  would  put  on  their 
shoes  or  moccasins.  They  were  contented  and  even  happy  without  any  of  the 
elegant  articles  of  apparel  now  used  by  the  ladies  and  considered  necessary  arti- 
cles of  dress.  Ruffles,  fine  laces,  silk  hats,  kid  gloves,  false  curls,  rings,  combs 
and  jewels  were  almost  unknown,  nor  did  the  lack  of  them  vex  their  souls.  Many 
of  them  were  grown  before  they  ever  saw  the  interior  of  a  well  supplied  dry- 
goods  store.  They  were  reared  in  simplicity,  lived  in  simplicity  and  were  happy 
in  simplicity. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  speak  more  specifically  regarding  cookery  and  diet. 
Wild  meat  was  plentiful.  The  settlers  generally  brought  some  food  with  them 
to  last  till  a  crop  could  be  raised.  Small  patches  of  Indian  corn  were  raised, 
which,  in  the  earliest  days  of  the  settlements,  was  beaten  in  a  mortar.  The  meal 
was  made  into  a  coarse  but  wholesome  bread,  on  which  the  teeth  could  not  be 
very  tightly  shut  on  account  of  the  grit  it  contained.  Johnny  cake  and  pones 
were  served  at  dinner,  while  mush  and  milk  was  the  favorite  dish  for  supper. 
In  the  fireplace  hung  the  crane,  and  the  dutch  oven  was  used  in  baking.  The 
streams  abounded  in  fish,  which  formed  a  healthful  article  of  food.  Many  kinds 
of  greens,  such  as  dock  and  polk,  were  eaten.  The  "truck  patch"  furnished  roast- 
ing ears,  pumpkins,  beans,  squashes  and  potatoes,  and  these  were  used  by  all. 
For  reaping  bees,  log  rollings  and  house  raisings,  the  standard  dish  was  pot 
pie.  Coffee  and  tea  were  used  sparingly,  as  they  were  very  dear,  and  the  hardy 
pioneer  thought  them  a  drink  fit  only  for  women  and  children.  They  said  it 
would  not  "stick  to  the  ribs."  Maple  sugar  was  much  used  and  honey  was  only 
five  cents  a  pound.  Butter  was  the  same  price,  while  eggs  were  three  cents. 
The  utmost  good  feeling  prevailed.  If  one  killed  hogs,  all  shared.  Chickens 
were  to  be  seen  around  every  doorway  in  great  numbers  and  the  gabble  of  the 
turkey  and  quack  of  the  duck  were  heard  in  the  land.  Nature  contributed  of  her 
fruits.  Wild  grapes  and  plums  were  to  be  found  in  their  season,  along  the 
streams. 

The  women  manufactured  nearly  all  of  the  clothing  worn  by  the  family. 
In  cool  weather  gowns  made  of  "linsey  woolsey"  were  worn  by  the  ladies.  The 
chain  was  of  cotton  and  the  filling  of  wool.  The  fabric  was  usually  plaid  or 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  147 

striped,  and  the  differing  colors  were  blended  according  to  the  taste  and  fancy 
of  the  fair  maker.  Colors  were  blue,  copperas,  turkey  red,  light  blue,  etc. 
Every  house  contained  a  card  loom  and  spinning  wheels,  'which  were  considered 
by  the  women  as  necessary  for  them  as  the  rifle  was  for  the  men.  Several  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  cloth  were  made.  Cloth  was  woven  from  cotton.  The  rolls  were 
bought  and  spun  on  little  and  big  wheels,  into  kinds  of  thread;  one  the  "chain" 
and  the  other  the  "filling."  The  more  experienced  only  spun  the  chain;  the 
younger  the  filling.  Two  kinds  of  loom  were  in  use.  The  most  primitive  in 
construction  was  called  the  "side  loom."  The  frame  of  it  consisted  of  two  pieces 
of  scantling  running  obliquely  from  the  floor  to  the  wall.  Later,  the  frame  loom, 
which  was  a  great  improvement  over  the  other,  came  into  use. 

The  men  and  boys  wore  "jeans"  and  linsey  woolsey  hunting  shirts.  The 
"jeans"  were  colored  either  light  blue  or  butternut. 

Many  times  when  the  men  gathered  to  a  log  rolling  or  barn  raising,  the  women 
would  assemble,  bringing  their  spinning  wheels  with  them.  In  this  way  some- 
times as  many  as  ten  or  twelve  would  gather  in  one  room,  and  the  pleasant 
voices  of  the  fair  spinners  were  mingled  with  the  low  hum  of  the  spinning  wheels. 

Such  articles  of  apparel  as  could  not  be  manufactured  were  brought  to  them 
from  the  nearest  store  by  the  mail  carrier.  These  were  few,  however.  The  men 
and  boys,  in  many  instances,  wore  pantaloons  made  of  the  dressed  skin  of  the 
deer,  which  then  swarmed  the  prairies  in  large  herds.  The  young  man  who 
desired  to  look  captivating  to  the  eye  of  the  maiden  whom  he  loved,  had  his 
"bucks"  fringed,  which  lent  them  a  not  unpleasing  effect.  Meal  sacks  were  also 
made  of  buckskin.  Caps  were  made  of  the  skins  of  the  wolf,  fox,  wild  cat  and 
muskrat,  tanned  with  the  fur  on.  The  tail  of  the  fox  or  wolf  often  hung  down 
the  top  of  the  cap,  lending  the  wearer  a  jaunty  air.  Both  sexes  wore  moccasins, 
which  in  dry  weather  were  an  excellent  substitute  for  shoes.  There  were  no 
shoemakers  and  each  family  made  its  own  shoes. 

The  settlers  were  separated  from  their  neighbors  often  by  miles.  There  were 
no  churches  or  regular  services  of  any  kind  to  call  them  together,  hence,  no 
doubt,  the  cheerfulness  with  which  they  accepted  invitations  to  a  house  raising 
or  a  log  rolling  or  a  corn  shucking,  or  a  bee  of  any  kind.  To  attend  these  gath- 
erings sometimes  they  would  go  ten  miles  or  more. 

Generally  with  the  invitation  to  the  men  went  one  to  the  women  to  come 
to  a  quilting.  The  good  woman  of  the  house  where  the  festivities  were  to  take 
place  would  be  busily  engaged  for  a  day  or  more  in  preparation  for  the  coming 
guests.  Great  quantities  of  provisions  were  to  be  prepared,  for  dyspepsia  was 
unknown  to  the  pioneer  and  good  appetites  were  the  rule  and  not  the  exception. 

The  bread  used  at  these  frolics  was  generally  baked  on  Johnny  or  Journey  cake 
boards,  and  was  the  best  corn  bread  ever  made.  The  board  was  made  smooth, 
about  two  feet  long  and  -eight  inches  wide.  The  ends  were  generally  rounded. 
The  dough  was  spread  out  on  this  board  and  placed  leaning  before  the  fire.  One 
side  was  baked  and  then  the  dough  was  changed  on  the  board,  so  the  other  side 
was  presented  to  the  fire.  This  was  Johnny  cake  and  was  good  if  the  proper 
materials  were  put  in  the  dough  and  it  was  properly  baked. 

At  all  log  rollings  and  house  raisings,  it  was  customary  to  provide  liquor. 
Excesses  were  not  indulged  in,  however.  The  fiddler  was  never  forgotten.  After 


148  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

the  day's  work  had  been  accomplished,  out  doors  and  in,  by  men  and  women, 
the  floor  was  cleared  and  the  merry  dance  began.  The  handsome,  stalwart  young 
men,  whose  fine  forms  were  the  result  of  their  manly,  outdoor  life,  clad  in  fringed 
buckskin  breeches  and  gaudily  colored  hunting  shirts,  led  forth  the  bright  eyed, 
buxom  damsels,  attired  in  neatly  fitting  linsey  woolsey  garments,  to  the  dance, 
their  cheeks  glowing  with  health  and  eyes  speaking  of  enjoyment,  and  perhaps  of 
a  tenderer  emotion. 

In  pioneer  times  the  corn  was  never  husked  on  the  stalk,  as  is  done  at  this 
day,  but  was  hauled  home  in  the  husk  and  thrown  in  a  heap,  generally  by  the 
side  of  the  crib,  so  that  the  ears,  when  husked,  could  be  thrown  direct  into  the 
crib.  The  whole  neighborhood,  male  and  female,  were  invited  to  the  shucking, 
as  it  was  called.  The  girls,  and  many  of  the  married  women,  engaged  in  this 
amusing  work. 

In  the  first  place  two  leading  expert  huskers  were  chosen  as  captains,  and  the 
heap  of  corn  divided  as  nearly  equal  as  possible.  Rails  were  laid  across  the  pile 
so  as  to  designate  the  division ;  and  then  each  captain  chose,  alternately,  his  corps 
of  huskers,  male  and  female.  The  whole  number  of  working  hands  present  were 
selected,  on  one  side  or  the  other,  and  then  each  party  commenced  a  contest  to 
beat  the  other,  which  was  in  many  cases  truly  exciting.  One  other  rule  was  that 
whenever  a  male  husked  a  red  ear  of  corn,  he  was  entitled  to  a  kiss  from  the 
girls.  This  frequently  excited  much  fuss  and  scuffling,  which  was  intended  by 
both  parties  to  end  in  a  kiss.  It  was  a  universal  practice  that  tafna  or  Monon- 
gahela  whisky  was  used  at  these  husking  frolics,  which  they  drank  out  of  a  bottle, 
each  one,  male  and  female,  taking  the  bottle  and  drinking  out  of  it,  and  then 
handing  it  to  his  next  neighbor,  without  using  any  glass  or  cup  whatever.  This 
custom  was  common  and  was  not  considered  rude.  Almost  always  these  corn 
shuckings  ended  in  a  dance.  To  prepare  for  this  amusement  fiddles  and  fiddlers 
were  in  great  demand,  and  it  often  required  much  fast  riding  to  obtain  them. 
One  violin  and  a  performer  were  all  that  was  contemplated  at  these  innocent 
rural  games. 

Toward  dark  and  the  supper  half  over,  then  it  was  that  a  bustle  and  con- 
fusion commenced.  The  confusion  of  tongues  at  Babel  would  have  been  ashamed 
at  the  corn  shuckings,  the  young  ones  hurrying  off  the  table,  and  the  old  ones 
contending  for  time  and  order.  It  was  the  case,  in  nine  times  out  of  ten,  that 
but  one  dwelling  house  was  on  the  premises,  and  that  used  for  eating  as  well 
as  dancing. 

But  when  the  fiddler  commenced  tuning  his  instrument  the  music  always 
gained  the  victory  for  the  young  side.  Then  the  dishes,  victuals,  table  and  all, 
disappeared  in  a  few  minutes,  and  the  room  was  cleared,  the  dogs  driven  out, 
and  the  floor  swept  off  ready  for  action.  The  floors  of  these  houses  were  some- 
times the  natural  earth,  beat  solid,  sometimes  the  earth,  with  puncheons  in  the 
middle  over  the  potato  hole,  and  at  times  the  whole  floor  was  made  of  puncheons. 

The  music  at  these  country  dances  made  the  young  folks  almost  frantic,  and 
sometimes  much  excitement  was  displayed  to  get  on  the  floor  first.  Generally 
the  fiddler  on  these  occasions  assumed  an  important  bearing,  and  ordered  in  true 
professional  style,  so  and  so  to  be  done,  as  that  was  the  way  in  North  Carolina, 
where  he  was  raised.  The  decision  ended  the  contest  for  the  floor.  In  those 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  149 

days  they  danced  jigs  and  four  handed  reels,  as  they  were  called.  Sometimes 
three  handed  reels  were  also  danced.  In  these  dances  there  was  no  standing  still  ; 
all  were  moving  at  a  rapid  pace  from  the  beginning  to  the  end.  In  the  jigs  the 
bystanders  cut  one  another  out,  as  it  was  called,  so  that  this  dance  would  last 
for  hours.  Sometimes  the  parties  in  a  jig  tried  to  tire  one  another  down  in  the 
dance,  and  then  it  would  also  last  a  long  time  before  one  or  the  other  gave  up. 
The  cotillion  or  stand  still  dances  were  not  then  known.  « 

The  bottle  went  round  at  these  parties  as  it  did  at  the  shuckings,  and  male 
and  female  took  a  dram  out  of  it  as  it  passed  around.  No  sitting  was  indulged 
in,  and  the  folks  either  stood  or  danced  all  night,  as  generally  daylight  ended 
the  frolic.  The  dress  of  these  hardy  pioneers  was  generally  in  plain  homespun. 
The  hunting  shirt  was  much  worn  at  that  time,  which  was  a  convenient  working 
or  (lancing  dress.  Sometimes  dressed  deerskin  pantaloons  were  used  on  these 
occasions,  and  moccasins,  rarely  shoes,  and  at  times  barefeet  were  indulged  in. 
In  the  morning  all  went  home  on  horseback  or  on  foot.  No  carriages,  wagons  or 
other  vehicles  were  used  on  these  occasions,  for  the  best  of  reasons — because  they 
had  none.  Dancing  was  a  favorite  amusement  and  was  indulged  in  by  all. 

The  amusements  of  those  days  were  more  athletic  and  rude  than  those  of  to- 
day. Among  settlers  in  a  new  country,  from  the  nature  of  the  case,  a  higher 
value  was  set  upon  physical  than  mental  endowments.  Skill  in  woodcraft,  supe- 
riority of  muscular  development,  accuracy  in  shooting  with  the  rifle,  activity, 
swiftness  of  foot,  were  qualifications  that  brought  their  possessors  fame.  Foot 
racing  was  often  practiced,  and  often  the  boys  and  young  men  engaged  in  friendly 
contests  with  the  Indians.  Every  man  had  a  rifle,  and  always  kept  it  in  good 
order.  His  flints,  bullet  molds,  screwdriver,  awl,  butcher  knife  and  tomahawk 
were  fastened  to  the  shot  pouch  trap  or  to  the  belt  around  the  waist.  Target 
shooting  was  much  practiced  and  shots  were  made  by  the  hunters  and  settlers, 
with  flint  lock  rifles,  that  cannot  be  excelled  by  their  descendants  with  the  im- 
proved breech  loaders  of  the  present  day. 

At  all  gatherings  jumping  and  wrestling  was  indulged  in,  and  those  who  ex- 
celled were  thenceforward  men  of  notoriety.  Cards,  dice  and  other  gambling 
implements  were  unknown.  Dancing  was  a  favorite  amusement.  It  was  par- 
ticipated in  by  all. 

At  their  shooting  matches,  which  were  usually  for  the  prize  of  a  turkey,  or 
a  gallon  of  whisky,  good  feeling  generally  prevailed.  If  disputes  arose,  they  were 
often  settled  by  a  square  stand-up  fight,  and  no  one  thought  of  using  other 
weapons  than  fists.  They  held  no  grudge  after  their  fights,  for  this  was  consid- 
ered unmanly.  It  was  the  rule,  that  if  a  fight  occurred  between  two  persons, 
the  victor  should  pour  water  for  the  defeated  as  he  washed  away  the  traces  of 
the  fray,  after  which  the  latter  was  to  perform  the  same  service  for  the  former. 

Among  the  first  of  the  pioneer  mills  were  the  "band  mills."  The  plan  was 
cheap.  The  horse  power  consisted  of  a  large  upright  shaft,  some  ten  or  twelve 
feet  in  height,  with  some  eight  or  ten  long  arms  let  into  the  main  'shaft  and  ex- 
tending out  from  it  fifteen  feet.  Auger  holes  were  bored  into  the  arms  on  the 
upper  side  at  the  end,  into  which  wooden  pins  were  driven.  This  was  called  the 
"big  wheel"  and  was,  as  has  been  seen,  about  twenty  feet  in  diameter.  The  raw 
hide  belt  or  tug  was  made  of  skins  taken  off  of  beef  cattle,  which  were  cut  into 


150  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

strips  three  inches  in  width ;  these  were  twisted  into  a  round  cord  or  tug,  which 
was  long  enough  to  encircle  the  circumference  of  the  big  wheel.  There  it  was 
held  in  place  by  the  wooden  pins,  then  crossed  and  passed  under  a  shed  and  run 
around  a  drum,  or  what  is  called  a  "trunnel  head,"  which  was  attached  to  the 
grinding  apparatus.  The  horses  or  oxen  were  hitched  to  the  arms  by  means  of 
raw  hide  tugs.  Then  walking  in  a  circle  the  machinery  would  be  set  in  motion. 
To  grind  twelve  bushels  of  corn  was  considered  a  good  day's  work  on  a  band 
mill. 

The  most  rude  and  primitive  method  of  manufacturing  meal  was  by  the  use 
of  a  grater.  A  plate  of  tin  was  pierced  with  many  holes,  so  that  one  side  was  very 
rough.  The  tin  was  made  oval  and  then  nailed  to  a  board.  An  ear  of  corn  was 
rubbed  hard  on  this  grater,  whereby  the  meal  was  forced  through  the  holes,  and 
fell  down  into  a  vessel  prepared  to  receive  it.  An  improvement  on  this  was  the 
hand  mill.  The  stones  were  smaller  than  those  of  the  band  mill  and  were  pro- 
pelled by  man  or  woman  power.  A  hole  was  made  in  the  upper  stone  and  a 
staff  of  wood  was  put  in  it,  and  the  other  end  of  the  staff  was  put  through  a  hole 
in  a  plank  above,  so  that  the  whole  was  free  to  act.  One  or  two  persons  took  hold 
of  this  staff  and  turned  the  upper  stone  as  rapidly  as  possible.  An  eye  was  made 
in  the  upper  stone,  through  which  the  corn  was  put  into  the  mill  with  the  hand 
in  small  quantities  to  suit  the  mill,  instead  of  a  hopper.  A  mortar,  wherein  corn 
was  beaten  into  meal,  was  made  out  of  a  large  round  log,  three  or  four  feet 
long.  One  end  was  cut  or  burned  out  so  as  to  hold  a  peck  of  corn,  more  or  less, 
according  to  circumstances.  This  mortar  was  set  one  end  on  the  ground,  and  the 
other  up,  to  hold  the  corn.  A  sweep  was  prepared  over  the  mortar  so  that  the 
spring  of  the  pole  raised  the  piston  and  the  hands  at  it  forced  it  down  on  the 
corn  so  hard  that  after  much  beating,  meal  was  manufactured. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

I     :  •;  ,'j 

PUBLIC  BUILDINGS. 

THE  FIRST  COURT    HOUSE  A   PRIMITIVE   LOG  BUILDING MEN    OF   NOTE   HELD   FORTH 

THERE SECOND  BUILDING  SOMEWHAT  MORE  PRETENTIOUS  THAN  ITS  PREDE- 
CESSOR  HERE  LINCOLN,  DOUGLAS  AND  MANY  OTHERS  WHO  BECAME  OF  NA- 
TIONAL NOTE  FOREGATHERED EARLY  CRIMINAL  RECORD. 

FIRST    COURT    HOUSE. 

The  county,  being  organized  and  electing  officials  to  look  after  its  business 
affairs,  needed  a  place  of  its  own,  wherein  the  county  officers  might  perform 
their  duties.  Or,  in  other  words,  a  place  was  needed  in  which  to  hold  court,  of- 
fices for  the  board  of  commissioners  and  other  officers,  and  a  safe  repository  for 
public  documents.  The  commissioners'  and  district  courts  had  been  held  at  the 
homes  of  certain  of  the  settlers,  but  the  business  of  the  county  was  growing  and 
the  necessity  of  a  courthouse  became  more  and  more  apparent.  Hence  it  was  "at 
a  county  commissioners'  court  begun  and  held  at  the  house  of  Ezekiel  Good,  in 
and  for  the  county  of  Macoupin,  on  Monday,  the  seventh  day  of  September, 
A.  D.,  1829." 

"Present:  Theodorus  Davis,  Sr.,  Seth  Hodges,  Commissioners. 

"It  is  ordered  by  the  court  that  the  building  of  a  courthouse  for  said  county 
of  the  following  description,  namely :  to  be  built  of  hewn  logs,  18x24  feet-  The 
logs  to  face  one  foot  on  an  average ;  the  house  to  be  two  stories  high.  The  lower 
story  to  be  eight  feet  between  floors  and  the  second  story  to  be  six  feet  below 
the  roof;  to  have  one  door  below,  with  one  window  below  and  one  above;  door 
to  be  cased  and  to  have  a  good  strong  plank  shutter ;  the  windows  to  contain  twelve 
lights  or  panes  of  glass,  eight  by  ten ;  two  good  plank  floors,  to  be  jointed  and 
laid  down  rough ;  roof  to  be  double  covered  with  boards ;  weight  poles  to  be 
shaven ;  craqks  to  be  lined  on  the  inside  with  shaven  boards  and  crammed  on  the 
outside  with  mud  and.  straw  or  grass,  well  mixed  together ;  all  to  be  completed 
in  a  strong  manner  by  the  first  Friday  after  the  second  Monday  in  April  next, 
will  be  let  on  a  credit  of  six,  twelve,  and  eighteen  months,  to  the  lowest  bidder  on 
the  igth  inst;  the  undertaker  to  give  bond  with  approved  security  for  the  per- 
formance of  his  contract,  and  that  the  clerk  of  this  court  advertise  the  same." 

Seth  Hodges  received  the  contract  for  the  building  of  the  courthouse,  and 
filed  the  necessary  bond  required  by  the  commissioners.  The  building  was  duly 
completed  according  to  contract,  and  the  commissioners  held  their  first  court  in 
the  new  courthouse  on  the  ijth  day  of  July,  1830. 

151 


152  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

The  courthouse  was  accepted  by  the  commissioners,  and  at  the  September 
term,  1830,  Seth  Hodges  was  allowed  the  sum  of  $48.33  1/3,  and  at  a  subsequent 
term  of  the  court  he  was  allowed  $57.33  1/3.  Among  the  items  inckided  in  the 
building  and  furnishing  the  courthouse  were  benches  and  bar  $23,  which  fur- 
nishes an  interesting  comparison  with  the  furniture  of  the  court  room  and  judges' 
chair  of  the  present  magnificent  structure. 

The  commissioners  on  the  25th  of  March,  1835,  appointed  James  C.  Ander- 
son, Isaac  Greathouse,  Stith  M.  Otwell,  John  R.  Lewis,  and  John  Wilson  agents 
for  the  county  of  Macoupin,  to  borrow  a  sum  of  money  not  under  five  or  ex- 
ceeding seven  thousand  dollars,  at  a  rate  of  interest  not  exceeding  eight  per 
cent  per  annum,  for  a  term  of  years  not  under  six  nor  over  ten — to  be  applied  to 
the  erection  of  a  brick  courthouse.  The  commissioners  approved  the  bond, 
June  i,  1835. 

THE   SECOND   COURTHOUSE. 

The  second  building  erected  as  a  courthouse  had  an  atmosphere  about  it  never 
attained  by  its  successor.  It  was  build  on  ground  dedicated  by  its  donor  for  that 
purpose  and  its  walls  echoed  and  reechoed  many  times  the  eloquence  of  a  Lin- 
coln, a  Douglas  and  other  great  legal  lights  that  have  long  ceased  to  shed  their 
radiance  upon  an  admiring  public.  Men  of  national  renown,  in  the  days  of  "rid- 
ing the  circuit"  attended  court  in  this  historic  old  building. 

The  court  adopted  the  following  as  the  plan  of  a  courthouse  in  the  town  of 
Carlinville  and  county  of  Macoupin :  "The  square  of  the  house  fifty  feet ;  wall 
to  be  of  stone,  four  feet,  two  feet  under  ground,  of  rough  stone,  and  the  other 
of  two  feet  hewn  stone,  all  to  be  laid  with  good  lime  mortar,  two  feet,  six  inches 
thick ;  the  balance  of  good  hard  burnt  stock  brick,  laid  with  good  lime  mortar,  in 
workmanlike  manner,  two  and  a  half  bricks  thick  first  story,  and  two  the  second, 
each  story  to  be  fourteen  feet  in  the  clear ;  the  lower  floor  to  be  even  with  the 
top  of  the  stone  wall,  to  have  four  posts  with  a  door,  and  two  windows  in  the 
lower  story  and  three  windows  in  each  front  in  the  upper  story,  each  window 
to  be  twenty-four  light,  10x14,  and  the  door  to  be  made  in  accordance  with  a 
plan  given  by  Dr.  J.  R.  Lewis ;  the  first  door  in  the  east  to  be  made  permanent 
and  the  judge's  seat  to  be  placed  against  the  same.  The  lower  part  to  be  divided 
into  a  court  room  and  lobby,  separated  by  a  bannister  four  feet  high,  passing 
through  the  house  from  north  to  south,  parallel  or  nearly  so  with  the  near  side  of 
the  north  and  south  doors,  to  the  judge's  seat,  two  flights  of  stairs  running  from 
the  court  room  over  each  door  to  the  center  space  of  upper  story,  and  to  be  one 
chimney. 

"December  term,  1836.  It  is  ordered  by  the  court  that  Harbird  Weatherford 
and  Jefferson  Weatherford,  two  of  the  undertakers  to  build  the  courthouse  for 
this  county  be  allowed  the  sum  of  $1,500  to  be  due  and  payable  on  the  1st  of 
March,  1839,  and  if  not  punctually  paid  when  due  to  draw  interest  at  the  rate 
of  eight  per  cent  per  annum  from  the  time  the  same  becomes  due  and  payable  until 
paid. 

"June  term,  1837.  It  is  ordered  by  the  court  that  in  the  plan  of  the  court- 
house in  this  county  that  the  stone  caps  be  dispensed  with  and  that  brick  arches 
be  turned,  and  also  that  the  sills  for  the  windows  of  stone  be  dispensed  with  and 


OLD  COURTHOUSE  OX  PUBLIC'  SQUARE.  1869 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  153 

A 

walnut  sills  be  received  in  their  place,  and  also  that  $175  be  deducted  from  the 
price  of  building  said  house.  Two  of  the  undertakers  of  the  house  being  present 
and  giving  their  consent  to  this  order  by  J.  Greathouse  and  J.  Weatherford. 

"March,  1840.  The  court  house  officially  received.  $550  deducted  from  pay- 
ment thereof  for  defalcations  in  completing  of  the  work. 

"1838.  A  fence  costing  $230,  built  round  the  courthouse  to  each  corner,  and 
each  chimney  to  have  two  fire  places,  one  above  and  one  below,  the  upper  part 
to  be  laid  off  with  a  passage  in  the  center,  corresponding  with  the  center  win- 
dows, ten  feet  wide ;  the  east  side  of  said  passage  to  be  entry  room  and  the  west 
to  be  laid  off  in  three  rooms  of  equal  size.  The  roof  and  cupola  to  be  built  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  said  plan  of  Dr.  J.  R.  Lewis,  James  C.  Anderson  and  Thomas 
Corr  as  commissioners  to  let  out  the  said  building  to  the  lowest  bidder,  payable 
out  of  the  county  in  the  following  payments:  $2,000  payable  the  ist  of  March, 
1839;  $4,000  payable  the  ist  of  March,  1840;  $4,000  payable  the  ist  of  March, 
1841 ;  and  the  balance  provided  the  amount  does  not  exceed  the  sum  of  two 
thousand  dollars,  payable  the  ist  of  March,  1842.  County  orders  to  be  issued  to 
the  order  of  said  commissioners,  and  said  orders  to  bear  eight  per  cent  interest v 
per  annum,  from  the  time  due  until  paid,  if  not  punctually  paid,  and  said  court 
house  to  be  built  in  the  center  of  the  public  square,  of  the  said  town  of  Carlin- 
ville,  and  the  same  to  be  finished  according  to  the  said  plan,  against  the  ist  of 
January,  1838.  Ordered  publication  of  said  building  be  published  in  the  Alton 
Telegraph  four  weeks." 

On  the  completion  of  the  third  and  present  courthouse,  the  old  building  was 
sold  at  public  auction  by  the  authorities,  and  brought  a  little  over  $700. 

JURISTS  OF   EARLY  RENOWN. 

Here  sat  upon  the  bench  with  dignity  and  impartiality — Stephen  T.  Logan,  a 
man  who  won  lasting  renown  as  a  learned  lawyer  and  unapproachable  jurist. 
He  was  preceded,  however,  by  Judge  Samuel  D.  Lockwood,  whose  character  was 
stainless.  It  was  said  of  Judge  Lockwood  that  as  a  jurist  he  was  the  peer  of 
the  ablest  of  his  contemporary  associates  on  the  bench. 

There  was  also  William  Brown,  who  was  appointed  by  Governor  Duncan  as 
judge  pro  tem.  of  the  first  judicial  district,  upon  the  resignation  of  Judge  Logan 
in  1837.  He  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  a  man  of  culture  and  agreeable  manners 
and  at  the  time  of  his  elevation  to  the  bench  but  twenty-five  years  of  age.  He 
was  followed  on  the  bench  by  Jesse  B.  Thomas,  John  Pearson,  William  Thomas, 
of  Jacksonville,  David  M.  Woodson,  of  Carrollton,  in  1848;  Edward  Y.  Rice, 
who  studied  law  under  General  John  M.  Palmer  and  was  elected  to  the  bench  in 
1857;  H.  M.  Vandeveer,  of  Taylorville,  in  1870;  and  Charles  S.  Zane,  of  Spring- 
field, in  1873;  William  R.  Welch,  in  1877;  Jesse  D.  Phillips,  of  Hillsboro;  Judge 
Phillips  resigned  in  1893  and  was  succeeded  by  Robert  B.  Shirley,  of  Carlinville, 
the  number  of  the  districts  having  been  changed  and  Macoupin  placed  in  the 
fifth. 

In  the  apportionment  of  1897  the  number  of  judicial  districts  was  increased 
from  thirteen  to  seventeen  and  Macoupin  county  was  assigned  to  the  seventh. 
Judge  Shirley  succeeded  himself  on  the  bench  and  is  the  present  resident  judge. 


154  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

LINCOLN  AND  DOUGLAS. 

IWhen  southern  Illinois  formed  one  vast  judicial  district  many  able  lawyers 
appeared  at  this  court  as'  the  state  or  prosecuting  attorney.  Among  them  may  be 
mentioned  George  Farquer,  a  half  brother  of  Governor  Ford,  in  the  early  '305; 
John  J.  Harclin,  within  the  same  period;  Stephen  A  Douglas,  the  "little  giant," 
in  1835  and  1836;  Jesse  B.  Thomas,  who  afterward  was  elevated  to  the  bench, 
likewise  D.  M.  Woodson;  John  S.  Greathouse,  in  1841-2,  the  pioneer  lawyer  of 
Carlinville;  John  Evans,  in  1843-4;  C.  H.  Goodrich,  1845-6;  William  Weer  for 
short  time  as  an  appointee;  Henry  Dusenburg,  1847-8;  C.  H.  Goodrich,  1849-52; 
Cyrus  Epler,  1853-6;  James  B.  White,  1857-64;  C.  M.  Morrison,  1865-69;  Horace 
Gwin,  1870-72;  S.  T.  Corn,  1873-80. 

At  this  bar  appeared  members  of  the  legal  profession  who  eventually  became 
of  world-wide  reputation.  Abraham  Lincoln,  in  "riding  the  circuit"  was  fre- 
quently called  to  the  Macoupin  sittings  of  court  and  there  are  men  still  living  in 
Carlinville,  who  can  remember  seeing  him  upon  his  visits.  He  was  considered  a 
good  lawyer  and  a  shrewd  one.  In  his  cases  he  was  uniformly  successful.  As  is 
well  known  by  the  student  of  history,  Douglas  and  Lincoln's  rivalry  did  not  be- 
gin at  the  opening  of  their  political  career.  They  rarely  appeared  on  the  same 
side  of  a  case ;  the  rule  was  to  find  them  opposing  each  other  in  the  courts  in  the 
interest  of  contending  clients.  The  fact  that  such  men  as  Lincoln  and  Douglas 
practiced  at  the  Macoupin  bar,  if  only  as  itinerant  lawyers,  gives  to  the  local 
history  of  the  profession  a  flavor  all  its  own. 

The  eloquent  and  heroic  E.  D.  Baker,  of  Springfield,  also  appeared  here,  as 
did  also  U.  F.  Linder,  John  J.  Hardin  and  many  others  who  made  great  reputa- 
tions and  thereby  honored  the  profession  of  their  adoption ;  but  to  enumerate  them 
all  would  be  tedious  and,  most  likely,  profitless  to  the  general  reader ., 

COUNTY   JAILS. 

It  was,  of  course,  even  though  the  county  was  new  and  sparsely  settled,  nec- 
essary to  have  a  place  in  which  to  confine  the  unruly  and  criminal  class.  Carlin- 
ville was  the  county  seat  and  the  building  of  a  county  jail  could  not  be  avoided. 
Consequently,  at  the  March  term  of  the  commissioners'  court,  in  the  year  1832, 
it  was  ordered  that  a  county  jail  be  built  of  the  following  description : 

FIRST  JAIL. 

"To  be  built  of  hewed  timbers,  the  outside  wall  to  be  started  one  foot  under 
ground,  to  be  eighteen  feet  square,  built  of  logs,  hewed  to  square  ten  inches ;  the 
floor  to  be  laid  with  hewed  timbers,  to  square  twelve  inches,  two  thicknesses  and 
crosswise,  the  whole  to  be  only  twelve  inches  above  the  surface  of  the  ground ; 
the  inside  wall  to  be  built  of  hewed  timbers,  to  square  eight  inches,  and  started 
on  the  floor  the  middle  wall  to  be  started  at  the  same  place  as  the  inside  one,  and 
built  of  hewed  timbers,  to  square  six  inches,  to  be  let  down  outwise,  the  inside  and 
middle  wall  to  be  raised  seven  feet  high ;  the  second,  floor  to  be  laid  with  timbers 
to  square  ten  inches,  to  be  laid  on  said  walls,  and  said  floor  to  be  laid  with  two- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  155 

inch  plank  crosswise,  to  be  jointed  and  laid  down  rough ;  then  the  middle  wall 
will  be  discontinued,  and  the  other  two  to  be  continued  seven  feet  higher,  leaving 
an  open  space  between  them  of  six  inches ;  third  floor  to  be  seven  feet  from  the 
second,  and  laid  with  hewed  timbers,  to  square  twelve  inches,  said  timbers  to  ex- 
tend outside  of  the  wall  nine  inches  at  each  end ;  roof  to  be  shingled  with  walnut 
shingles,  to  be  made  five-eighths  of  an  inch  thick  and  four  inches  wide,  on  an 
average;  rafters  to  be  three  by  five  inches  at  the  plate  and  thfee  square  at  the 
top,  to  show  four  inches  to  the  weather ;  to  be  sawed  and  to  be  set  two  feet  from 
the  center ;  two  center  plates  framed  on  the  top  to  be  eight  by  twelve  inches,  where- 
on to  set  the  rafters,  with  conduits  or  eave  troughs,  to  be  black  walnut ;  one  out- 
side door  in  the  upper  story,  to  have  two  shutters,  one  to  open  on  the  outside  and 
the  other  on  the  inside,  to  be  two  feet  six  inches  wide  and  five  feet  high,  to  be 
made  of  two  thicknesses  of  plank,  plank  to  be  one  and  a  half  inches  thick,  nailed 
on  crosswise,  to  be  strapped  with  iron,  straps  to  be  half-inch  thick  and  three 
inches  wide,  to  be  riveted  on  the  door  not  exceeding  six  inches  apart,  the  spaces 
between  to  be  filled  up  with  nails  with  large  heads,  to  be  driven  in  and  clinched 
on  the  inside ;  hinges  to  be  strong  and  suitable  to  the  door ;  hatchway  two  and 
a  half  feet  square,  to  be  made  as  the  outside  door,  and  put  in  the  middle  of  the 
second  floor,  hung  on  strong  hinges,  to  be  fastened  with  a  large  hasp  and  pad- 
lock; platform  four  feet  square,  bannistered  round,  with  a  stepladder  extending 
from  the  ground  up  to  it;  two  windows  below,  one  foot  square  each,  with  iron 
bars  one  inch  square,  to  be  two  inches  from  center  to  center,  and  let  in  the  mid- 
dle wall,  bars  to  be  crossed  in  the  windows,  and  two  windows  above,  to  be  the 
same  size  as  the  lower  ones,  and  made  with  bars  as  below,  only  single  instead  of 
crossed ;  all  the  timbers  to  be  of  white  oak  and  over  cap ;  to  be  completed  in  a 
strong  and  workmanlike  manner,  on  or  before  the  1st  of  September,  1833.  One 
payment  of  two  hundred  dollars  to  be  made  at  the  March  term,  1833,  to  the  un- 
dertaker, the  same  amount  to  be  paid  in  annual  installments,  until  the  full  amount 
shall  be  discharged ;  be  sold  on  the  first  Monday  in  June  next,  to  the  lowest  bid- 
der, the  undertaker  to  give  bond,  with  approved  security  for  the  performance 
of  his  contract,  to  the  county  commissioners  of  this  county  and  to  their  succes- 
sors in  office,  conditioned  for  the  faithful  performance  of  his  contract,  on  or 
before  the  first  day  of  September,  1833 ;  also  that  the  clerk  of  this  court  adver- 
tise the  same  in  three  public  places  in  this  county. 

"December,  1832.  It  is  ordered  by  the  court  that  the  jail  about  to  be  erected 
for  this  county  be  erected  on  the  northeast  corner  of  lot  numbered  eighty,  being 
the  same  lot  on  which  the  stray  pen  is  put  in  the  town  of  Carlinville. 

"March,  1834.    Total  cost  of  jail,  $686.70." 

SECOND    JAIL. 

This  was  a  much  more  pretentious  structure  than  the  former  and  was  erected 
near  the  southeast  corner  of  the  public  square  in  the  year  1854.  It  was  a  two- 
story  building,  the  outer  walls  being  constructed  of  brick  and  the  cells  and  parti- 
tions of  wood.  The  upper  floor  contained  the  cells  for  prisoners,  while  the  lower 


166  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

was  used  for  a  residence  by  the  jailer  and  family.    This  building  was  burned  to 
the  ground  in  1860. 

THE  THIRD  JAIL. 

This  was  built  in  1860,  on  the  site  of  the  burned  building.  The  walls  were  of 
brick ;  the  cells  of  iron.  Upon  the  completion  of  the  building  the  cells  were  re- 
moved to  Alton  and  used  for  jail  purposes.  The  building  was  used  as  a  dwelling. 

THE  FOURTH  JAIL. 

The  fourth  and  present  jail  is  built  of  stone  and  is  a  handsome  and  durable 
structure.  It  stands  south  of  the  courthouse  and  was  built  at  the  time  of  the 
erection  of  its  grander  neighbor.  A  view  of  this  edifice  is  given,  from  which  a 
good  idea  of  the  plan  may  be  gained. 


CHAPTER  X. 
MACOUPIN'S  "WHITE  ELEPHANT." 

A  BUILDING  WITH  A  HISTORY MONEY  "NO  OBJECT"  TO  ITS  PROMOTERS ARCHI- 
TECTURALLY "A  THING  OF  BEAUTY" — CREATES  A  TAX  UPON  THE  PEOPLE  LAST- 
ING OVER  FORTY  YEARS GRAND  JUBILEE  AT  PUBLIC  BURNING  OF  LAST  BOND  BY 

GOVERNOR  CHARLES  S.   DENEEN. 

On  the  2 ist  day  of  July,  1910,  closed  that  part  of  the  history  of  the  present 
courthouse  relating  to  the  men  who  were  instrumental  in  paving  the  way  to  its 
erection,  the  methods  devised  and  carried  out  for  financing  the  great  structure, 
the  issuing  of  bonds  and  the  difficulties  experienced  in  finding  for  them  a  market ; 
also  the  dissatisfaction  engendered  in  taxpayers,  their  futile  but  persistent 
efforts  to  stop  what  they  deemed  a  wantonly  extravagant  expenditure  of  money 
and  the  final  adjustment,  through  the  able  and  patriotic  efforts  of  General  Johq  I. 
Rinaker  and  Hon.  Charles  A.  Walker  as  attorneys  for  the  county,  of  the  monster 
debt,  by  which  over  a  million  dollars  was  saved. 

The  history  of  the  "State  of  Macoupin's"  courthouse  has  been  written  both 
in  prose  and  poetry.  The  country  and  metropolitan  press  had  been  furnished 
copy,  by  reason  of  its  .unique  character,  for  generations,  and  the  magazine  writer 
has  contributed  his  dot  to  spread  broadcast  the  many  interesting  and  remarkable 
details  connected  with  the  building  and  cost  of  this  temple  of  justice,  that  has 
not  its  counterpart  in  the  whole  length  and  breadth  of  this  great  country. 

A  building  that  should  have  cost  not  exceeding  $600,000,  held  up  the  Ma- 
coupin  county  taxpayers  to  the  tune  of  one  and  one-third  million  dollars  and 
took  them  forty-three  years  to  clear  the  debt.  A  magnificent  structure  it  is,  how- 
ever, and  in  its  proportions  and  architectural  lines,  spacious  enough  for  a  state 
house  and  pleasing  to  the  most  critical  eye. 

On  the  day  and  year  above  mentioned,  Macoupin  county  threw  off  the  last 
shackle  of  debt  and  to  commemorate  the  event  set  apart  the  day  for  one  of 
general  rejoicing  and  thanksgiving.  The  last  of  the  hated  bonds  was  publicly 
burned  by  Charles  S.  Deneen,  governor  of  the  state,  before  an  immense  con- 
course of  men  and  women,  who  had  become  wearied  and  worn  throughout  the 
years  of  their  thraldom  in  meeting  the  demands  of  the  great  brood  of  its  fellows, 
which  was  brought  into  being  by  a  too  liberal  and  plastic  authority.  And  in  the 
flames  consuming  that  bond  was  extinguished  all  bitterness,  animosity  and  re- 

157 


158  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

crimination;  but  not  so  remembrance.  The  courthouse  bids  fair  to  last  and  be 
serviceable  for  at  least  another  half  century,  and  probably  by  that  time  it  will 
have  ceased  to  remind  the  people  of  Macoupin  county  how  near,  and  yet  how 
dear,  it  has  been  to  them. 

The  following  details  pertinent  to  the  subject  at  hand  were  gathered  with 
care  and  precision  by  C.  J.  Lumpkin,  the  courteous  and  efficient  editor  of  the 
Daily  Enquirer,  and  published  in  that  excellent  paper  as  a  prelude  to  the  jollifi- 
cation festivities  succeeding  the  destruction  of  the  final  evidence  of  debt  con- 
nected with  the  courthouse.  The  essential  facts  are  given  and  all  data  relative  to 
the  subject  have  been  abstracted  from  the  minute  books  of  the  commissioners' 
court  and  the  board  of  supervisors.  The  compiler  of  this  history  has  been  well 
assured  of  the  correctness  of  Mr.  Lumpkin's  researches  and  the  results  of  his 
labors  are  here  placed  before  the  reader : 

THE  INITIAL   MOVE. 

It  is  a  fact  known  not  only  in  Carlinville  and  Macoupin  county,  but  through- 
out Illinois  and,  in  fact,  the  surrounding  states,  that  we  have  the  finest  court- 
house ever  erected  by  any  county  in  this  country.  It  is  also  generally  known 
that  the  beautiful  structure  came  into  existence  only  after  long  and  serious  trouble 
and  litigation  had  contested  every  inch  of  its  construction  and  the  people  who  at 
first  anticipated  with  some  misgivings  a  debt  of  $50,000  for  a  new  courthouse, 
finally  found  themselves  loaded  down  with  a  debt  of  $1,380,500.  This  was  at  a 
time  when  the  population  was  comparatively  small,  and  the  great  natural  wealth 
of  field  and  forest  and  mine  was  as  yet  hardly  dreamed  of  and  certainly  developed 
only  in  the  smallest  way. 

But  Macoupin  had  the  wealth  then,  as  now,  and  perhaps  those  who  caused 
the  debt  to  be  contracted  and  the  fine  building  to  be  erected  were  gifted  with  a 
farther  insight  into  the  future  than  others.  Perhaps  they  realized  the  great  nat- 
ural wealth  lying  dormant  here  and  there,  and  in  the  mind's  eye  foresaw  the  time 
when  the  debt,  which  seemed  so  fearful  then,  would  be  small  compared  to  the 
wealth  of  the  county.  In  charity  to  them,  for  they  were  trusted  men  in  their  day, 
let  us  now  conclude  this  to  be  true,  and  with  the  burning  of  the  last  bond 
destroy  any  traces  of  bitterness  yet  remaining  from  other  days. 

An  act  passed  by  the  state  legislature  in  February,  1867,  was  the  first  step 
toward  the  courthouse  bonds.  It  was  passed  on  the  application  of  the  county 
court,  composed  of  Judges  T.  L.  Loomis,  John  Yowell  and  Isham  J.  Peebles,  with 
George  H.  Holliday  as  clerk,  and  authorized  the  county  to  expend  $50,000,  and 
no  more.  Although  this  amount  at  that  time  seemed  large,  if  the  members  of 
the  county  court  had  built  a  courthouse  for  that  sum,  the  people  would  have 
cheerfully  paid  for  it  and  there  would  have  been  no  long  history  of  trouble  nor 
any  fine  courthouse  for  the  present  generation  to  be  proud  of,  nor  any  last  bond 
to  burn  on  the  2ist  day  of  July,  1910. 

FIFTY  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  ONLY   A   STARTER. 

The  $50,000  was  only  a  starter.  At  the  March  term  of  the  county  court, 
1867,  it  was  ordered  that  A.  McKim  Dubois  and  George  H.  Holliday  be  asso- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  159 

ciated  with  T.  L.  Loomis  and  Isham  J.  Peebles,  as  commissioners,  to  erect  a 
new  courthouse  in  the  city  of  Carlinville.  These  four  men  fought  out  the  battle 
and  back  of  them  was  a  small,  but  strong,  faction  headed  by  that  master  mind, 
John  M.  Palmer.  They  set  their  heads  and  hands  to  the  work  and  rode  over 
every  legal  or  civil  act  opposed  to  their  plan,  with  a  determination  worthy  of 
fatalists. 

Very  soon,  in  fact  at  the  June  term  following,  it  was  ordered  that  county 
orders  to  the  sum  of  $200,000  be  issued  and  a  tax  levy  of  fifty  cents  on  each 
$100  valuation  on  all  property  of  all  kinds  be  made,  and  Judge  Loomis  was  ap- 
pointed agent  for  the  court,  with  absolute  and  arbitrary  powers. 

At  a  special  term  of  the  county  court,  held  August  2,  1867,  it  was  ordered 
that  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $50,000,  authorized  by  the  legislature,  be  issued  for 
the  purpose  of  constructing  the  courthouse.  The  bonds  were  to  draw  ten  per 
cent  interest,  payable  semi-annually,  and  were  to  mature  at  stated  periods  covering 
ten  years'  time. 

TAXPAYERS    APPLY    FOR    AN    INJUNCTION. 

An  injunction,  preventing  the  county  court  from  proceeding,  was  refused 
and  the  commission  proceeded  with  their  plans  until  January  i,  1869,  when  the 
special  agent  reported  amounts  paid  on  contracts  aggregating  $313,044.25.  These 
payments  were  made  with  county  orders  in  the  sum  of  $1,000  each,  payable  ten 
years  from  January  i,  1868,  with  interest  at  the  rate  of  ten  per  cent  per  annum. 

Then  the  opposition  to  the  building  of  the  courthouse  grew  more  intense  and 
outspoken.  Indignation  meetings  were  held  in  all  parts  of  the  county,  condemn- 
ing the  actions  of  the  commissioners.  Threats  were  made,  protests  entered  <and 
such  was  the  furor  and  excitement  that  it  had  the  effect  of  calling  into  question 
the  validity  of  the  interest  bearing  orders.  A  legal  opinion  had  been  obtained 
from  John  M.  Palmer,  attorney  for  the  commissioners,  which  stated  that  the 
interest  bearing  orders  were  properly  issued  and  were  binding  on  the  county. 
The  commissioners  asked  for  special  legislation.  The  building  was  erected  up 
to  the  cornice  and  no  means  attainable  to  finish  it.  Confidence  had  to  be  re- 
stored, so  that  money  could  be  obtained  and  the  commissioners  sent  special 
agents  to  Springfield,  who  knew  how  to  go  about  it  to  get  the  legislation  needed. 
From  time  to  time  it  was  understood  by  the  people  that  the  commissioners  were 
endeavoring  to  secure  the  passage  of  an  act  that  would  fasten  the  courthouse 
debt  upon  them  more  firmly  and  give  the  builders  further  lease  of  power  and 
ability  to  issue  bonds,  and  they  organized  to  defeat  the  plans  of  the  commissioners- 

* 

A  BATTLE  ROYAL. 

Then  came  the  battle  royal — the  Gettysburg  of  the  courthouse  fight  in  the 
state  legislature.  The  commissioners  had  paid  out  the  original  $50,000  raised 
by  the  bonds,  authorized  in  1867  and  had  issued  interest  bearing  county  warrants 
to  ten  or  more  times  that  sum  and  must  legalize  beyond  question  the  county 


160  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

warrants  and  also  get  authority  to  raise  much  more  money.  Just  how  much, 
neither  they  nor  any  one  else  knew.  So  this  attempt  to  get  their  past  and  future 
acts  approved  by  the  legislature  was  the  crucial  and  all  important  part.  If  they 
had  failed,  it  is  probable  that  the  building  could  have  gone  no  further,  at  least 
for  many  years. 

But  they  did  not  fail.  They  won  this  fight  and  there  was  passed  and  ap- 
proved on  March  9,  1869,  an  act  legalizing  all  bonds,  warrants,  contracts  or 
other  evidences  of  indebtedness  in  reference  to  the  building  of  the  courthouse,  and 
the  county  court  was  authorized  to  borrow  money  and  issue  bonds  to  raise  what- 
ever sum  might  be  necessary  to  complete  the  courthouse  and  the  improvements 
connected  therewith.  This  was  the  act  that  settled  the  courthouse  question,  as  a 
matter  of  fact,  but  the  opposition  refused  to  recognize  defeat  and  kept  on  fight- 
ing. They  held  more  meetings  and  adopted  fiery  resolutions.  They  had  repre- 
sentatives at  Springfield  when  the  bill  was  on  passage,  and  as  a  sample  resolu- 
tion this  one  section  of  a  set  of  six  passed  at  a  mass  convention  of  citizens  held 
at  Carlinville  in  February,  1869,  with  I.  M.  Metcalf  as  chairman,  is  given: 

"Resolved,  That  the  county  court  of  Macoupin  county,  in  building  a  new 
courthouse,  has  disregarded  the  almost  unanimous  and  oft-repeated  protest  of 
the  people  of  this  county ;  that  it  has  utterly  disregarded  the  best  interests  of 
the  people  and  has  imposed  a  debt  that  the  present  generation  may  not  hope  to 
be  able  to  cancel ;  that  they  have  transcended  the  laws  of  the  land  and  trampled 
under  foot  the  bulwarks  of  our  liberties ;  that  such  open  and  shameful  violations 
of  law  and  utter  disregard  of  the  people  is  the  worst  form  of  tyranny  and  des- 
potism, and  that  this  convention  regards  and  condemns  as  enemies  to  free  gov- 
ernment the  authors  and  perpetrators  of  these  evils." 

AND   YET    MORE   BONDS   ARE   ISSUED. 

At  the  March  term,  1869,  of  the  county  court,  bonds  aggregating  $272,000 
were  authorized  and  were  issued  and  sold.  At  the  September  term  that  year, 
$408,000  in  bonds  were  issued.  At  the  November  term,  $212,000  more  bonds 
were  ordered  issued  and  were  turned  over  to  the  financial  agent,  A.  McKim  Du- 
bois. 

At  the  general  election  held  in  1869,  P.  C.  Huggins,  A.  A.  Atkins  and  M. 
Olmstead  were  elected  county  judges.  They  were  "anti-court  house'.'  and  imme- 
diately repudiated  as  many  of  the  acts  of  their  predecessors  as  they  possibly 
could.  They  required  final  reports  from  the  commissioners  at  a  special  term 
held  February  i,  1870.  The  final  report  of  the  county  agent  was  made  February 
7,  1870,  and  was  not  aproved  by  the  court.  The  building  was  practically  com- 
pleted that  year  and  the  commissioners  resigned  February  n.  They  had  built 
the  courthouse  and  accomplished  what  they  set  out  to  da  and  had  issued  bonds 
and  orders  as  follows : 

Bonds  issued  under  the  act  of  the  legislture  of  February,  1867.  Of  this  class 
the  amount  issued  was  $94,000,  of  which  $49,500  bore  the  seal  of  the  county  and 
the  balance  did  not.  (The  act  authorized  them  to  issue  only  $50,000.) 

Ten  per  cent  orders.     Of  this  class  there  were  issued  $64,000. 

Macoupin  county  interest  bearing  orders.     Of  this  kind  $321,000  were  issued. 


MACOUPIX  COUNTY  .JAIL 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  161 

Bonds  under  the  act  of  the  legislature  approved  March  9,  1869.  Of  this 
class  there  were  issued  $950,000. 

PROPOSITION    TO    FUND    DEBT. 

At  the  March  term,  1870,  of  the  county  court,  attorneys  for  many  taxpay- 
ers offered  a  motion  that  the  court  declare  illegal  the  courthouse  tax  which  the 
former  court  had  imposed,  to  pay  the  debt  on  the  building,  and  the  motion  was 
sustained  and  the  sheriff  was  ordered  not  to  collect  the  courthouse  tax.  But 
other  special  levies  under  the  names  of  special  tax  and  bond  tax  were  allowed  to 
stand  and  the  motion  as  to  them  was  not  sustained.  Suits  were  brought,  judg- 
ments obtained  against  the  county  by  holders  of  the  various  classes  of  paper,  a 
writ  of  mandamus  to  compel  the  levy  and  collection  of  all  the  courthouse 
taxes  was  obtained.  The  county  in  the  meantime,  in  1873,  having  adopted  the 
township  form  of  government,  in  1877  the  supervisors  made  a  proposition  for 
funding  the  courthouse  indebtedness,  which  was  adopted  by  a  majority  vote  of 
the  people  at  an  election  held  January  5,  1878.  The  substance  of  the  proposition 
was  to  fund,  take  up  and  cancel  all  of  the  outstanding  bonds,  notes,  orders, 
coupons  and  judgments,  at  the  rate  of  seventy-five  cents  on  the  dollar  of  the 
principal  of  said  papers,  and  to  issue  in  lieu  thereof,  bonds  issued  by  the  county 
to  run  twenty  years  and  bear  interest  at  the  rate  of  six  per  cent  per  annum, 
payable 'annually,  the  aggregate  amount  of  such  bonds  to  be  $1,036,000.  This 
issue  was  made  and  sold  and  in  the  succeeding  years  to  1890  nothing  further 
was  clone  in  the  matter  except  to  take  up  the  bpnds  and  coupons  as  the  funds 
provided  by  the  special  tax  allowed.  In  1890,  the  supervisors  attempted  to  re- 
fund the  outstanding  six  per  cent  bonds  with  an  issue  of  four  per  cent  bonds,  but 
on  account  of  the  low  rate  of  interest  this  was  found  impracticable  and  only 
$10,000  of  the  bonds  were  taken  and  these  by  residents  of  the  county  ex- 
clusively. 

In  1898  the  twenty  years  of  the  original  1878  issue  having  expired  and  the 
debt  of  that  time  being  $720,000,  the  supervisors  ordered,  issued  and  sold  four 
and  a  half  per  cent  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $720,000  and  it  is  believed  all  of  the 
1878  issue  has  been  paid  at  this  time.  The  last  outstanding  bond  was  of  the 
1898  issue  and  it  was  paid  July  I,  1910,  and  publicly  burned  on  the  2ist  at  the 
.celebration.  At  the  time  of  the  principal  funding  issue  in  1878,  the  court  house 
debt  was  estimated  at  $1,380,500.  Some  of  this  had  been  finally  paid  by  the 
county  court  from  the  receipts  of  the  special  levies  made  by  them,  and  the  balance 
was  settled  by  a  compromise  agreement  of  seventy-five  per  cent,  so  that  the 
issue  of  $1,306,000  covered  the  entire  debt  as  compromised. 

This  is  the  story  of  the  courthouse  bonds,  told  as  briefly  as  is  consistent  with 
a  clear  understanding  of  the  matter.  The  details  cover  a  period  of  forty-three 
years  and  their  history  is  a  long  story  of  strife  and  bitter  feeling,  recrimination 
and  charges  and  counter  charges,  but  through  it  all  there  was  a  steadfast  pur- 
pose exhibited  which  shows  that  men  of  great  strength  of  character  figured  in 
the  matter.  The  commissioners  and  county  court  who  entailed  the  debt  were 
steadfast  in  their  purpose  in  the  face  of  opposition  equally  determined,  the 
supervisors  who  managed  the  affair  of  the  county  through  all  these  years  stead- 


162  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

fast  in  their  purpose  to  discharge  the  debt,  and  no  less  true  is  it  that  the  people 
of  the  county  were  steadfast  in  their  support  of  the  various  boards  and  even 
reached  a  frame  of  mind  where  they  willingly,  if  not  cheerfully,  paid  into  the 
county  every  year  a  large  amount  which  showed  on  their  tax  receipt  or  "court- 
house bond  tax." 

INSIDE  HISTORY  AND  COMMENT. 

By  1866  the  old  court  building  was  said  to  be  inadequate.  The  county  clerk 
moved  his  office  and  records  into  a  building  at  the  southeast  corner  of  the  square, 
alleging  that  there  was  not  room  for  him  in  the  courthouse,  and  it  was  argued 
that  the  records  were  in  danger  of  destruction  by  fire  and  that  all  the  county 
documents  should  be  housed  in  one  and  the  same  building  and  that  the  building 
should  be  fire  proof  as  nearly  as  possible.  To  this  proposition  the  people  gener- 
ally assented,  although  even  at  this  time  there  was  an  anti-court  house  senti- 
ment developed  to  a  slight  extent,  at  least,  as  some  of  the  citizens  believed  that 
the  old  building  was  quite  sufficient  for  the  needs  of  the  county  in  every  way. 
However,  the  courthouse  party  was  sufficiently  large  to  warrant  the  county 
court  to  proceed  with  plans  for  the  erection  of  a  new  building,  and  the  public 
generally  understood  that  a  new  courthouse  would  be  erected  on  the  site  of  the 
old  one  in  the  public  square.  It  was  also  understood  that  the  cost  might  be  as 
much  as  $150,000,  and  to  this  there  was  no  great  or  determined  opposition.  In 
fact,  it  was  favored  by  many  of  the  leaders  among  the  people  in  that  day,  who, 
when  they  found  the  location  would  be  different  and  the  cost  greater,  became 
anti-court  house  partisans  and  fought  the  proposition  to  the  bitter  end  with 
every  power  nature  had  given  them. 

The  fundamental  reason  for  building  the  new  courthouse  was  that  a  majority 
of  the  people  of  the  county  and  the  county  court  believed  that  a  new  and  larger 
courthouse  was  necessary.  Many  other  reasons  were  alleged  against  the  pro- 
moters afterwards,  in  the  heat  of  acrimonious  debate,  but  in  the  cold  light  of 
history  an  impartial  writer  at  this  day  can  safely  say  that  this  was  the  true 
basic  reason.  It  was  also  the  opinion  of  Judge  T.  L.  Loomis  and  some  others, 
that  the  erection  of  a  very  fine  and  substantial  building  in  Carlinville  would  for- 
ever put  an  end  to  any  agitation  to  divide  the  county  or  move  the  county  seat. 
Those  who  advanced  this  idea  said  that  there  was  a  movement  on  foot  whereby 
Bunker  Hill  was  to  be  the  county  seat  of  a  county  composed  of  a  part  of  Ma- 
coupin  and  Madison  counties,  and  Virden  was  to  be  the  county  seat  of  part 
of  Sangamon  and  a  tier  of  townships  off  of  the  north  end  of  Macoupin  county. 
But,  after  investigation,  no  great  importance  has  been  placed  on  the  theory 
that  this  fear  had  much  to  do  with  the  matter. 


CHOOSING   THE   SITE. 

Although  the  impression  was  general  that  the  proposed  new  building  was  to 
be  erected  on  the  site  of  the  old  courthouse,  in  the  square,  the  county  court  and 
the  commissioners  had  other  plans,  as  events  proved.  They  evidently  reached  the 
conclusion  that  a  building  such  as  they  contemplated  would  be  too  large  for  the 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  163 

public  square,  and  furthermore,  that  it  should  have  a  park  surrounding  the 
building  which  would  be  commensurate  and  in  harmony  with  the  structure.  It 
is  easy  now  to  realize  that  the  present  courthouse  would  be  sadly  out  of  place  in 
the  public  square,  but  at  that  time  the  people  did  not  dream  of  a  building  of  the 
proportions  which  we  are  now  familiar  with.  Most  of  them  thought  that  the 
new  courthouse  should  be  in  the  public  square  and  many  believed  that  the 
ground  which  was  donated  by  Seth  Hodges  would  revert  to  his  heirs,  if  used  for 
any  other  purpose  than  a  courthouse.  Some  of  the  heirs  had  some  such  idea, 
and  a  prominent  attorney  from  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  came  to  Carlinville  in 
recent  years  with  the  idea  of  setting  up  such  a  claim  for  the  Hodges  heirs,  but 
after  investigation,  he  dropped  the  matter. 

The  county  court  quietly  purchased  land  in  the  block  now  used  for  the 
courthouse,  from  Messrs.  J.  E.  Andrews  and  Mrs.  Martha  Woods,  the  former 
owning  the  northeast,  and  the  latter  the  southeast  portions  of  the  block.  When 
the  general  public  became  aware  of  the  fact,  it  was  found  that  the  county  owned 
the  entire  block  except  the  northwest  portion,  where  George  Judd  had  erected  a 
$10,000  residence,  by  far,  at  that  time,  the  finest  in  the  town.  William  Maddox 
purchased  this  place  from  Mr.  Judd  and  later  sold  it  to  the  county  for  $15,000. 
In  regard  to  the  purchase  of  this  piece  of  the  courthouse  square,  it  is  told  that 
after  occupying  the  fine  home  for  a  time,  Mr.  Judd  found  it  rather  a  burden  to 
maintain  the  place,  his  business  affairs  becoming  in  a  more  or  less  unsatisfactory 
condition.  About  that  time,  William  Maddox,  who  was  a  widower,  was  court- 
ing Mrs.  Wall,  widow  of  ex-county  clerk  Enoch  Wall.  Mrs.  Wall  was  a  very 
handsome  and  highly  esteemed  lady  and  the  story  goes  that  she  intimated  to 
"Billy"  Maddox  that  if  he  had  a  home  for  a  bride  such  as  the  George  Judd 
place,  she  might  favor  his  suit  for  her  hand.  Maddox  took  the  hint,  relieved  Mr. 
fudd  of  his  burden  by  purchasing  the  property,  and  the  widow,  keeping  her 
part  of  the  agreement,  became  Mrs.  Maddox  and  mistress  of  the  beautiful 
home.  But  Maddox,  who  was  a  village  merchant,  soon  found  that  the  costly 
home  was  also  a  burden  to  him.  His  store  business  declined  and  he,  too,  came  to 
the  point  where  he  was  anxious  to  turn  the  place  into  cash.  He  was  a  very 
prominent  politician,  a  leader  in  county  political  affairs,  and  as  an  election 
of  county  officers  was  at  hand  about  the  time  he  decided  that  he  must  turn  the 
place  into  cash,  and  is  said  to  have  made  it  known  that  he  would  support  can- 
didates who  favored  building  a  new  courthouse,  locating  it  in  the  same  block 
with  his  fine  home,  and  who  also  favored  purchasing  the  balance  of  the  block 
(his  home  place)  for  courthouse  park  purposes.  He  delivered  the  votes  and 
the  successful  candidates  "delivered  the  goods."  His  place  was  purchased  by  the 
county  and  plans  were  soon  completed  for  the  erection  of  the  courthouse  in  that 
block.  The  Maddox  home  was  torn  down. 

These  facts  and  legends  show  why  the  new  building  was  erected  in  its  pres- 
ent location.  Always  in  the  location  of  a  large  public  building  there  is  more 
or  less  dissension  and  dissatisfaction,  and  the  promoters  are  usually  charged 
with  selfish  reasons,  of  which  they  probably  never  thought  at  all,  and  in  this 
matter  the  rule  probably  held  true.  Every  conceivable  selfish  motive  was  alleged 


164  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

against  the  county  court  and  commissioners  in  the  heat  of  the  fight  which  fol- 
lowed, but  none  of  them  seem  to  be  borne  out  by  the  facts  known  at  this  time. 


AS    TO    THE    COST. 

When  we  enter  upon  the  subject  of  the  cost  of  the  present  courthouse,  we 
immediately  find  ourselves  in  a  labyrinth  of  conflicting  evidence.  In  this  matter 
of  the  cost  lay  the  whole  reason  for  the  strife  and  dissension  which  accompanied 
the  erection  of  the  building,  and  did  not  end  until  years  after  its  completion. 
The  matter  of  changing  the  location  was  a  small  circumstance  compared  to  the 
fact  that  the  cost  was  increased  from  $50,000  to  $1,380,000.  The  bad  feeling 
caused  by  the  change  of  location  would  have  disappeared  in  a  few  years  no  doubt, 
but  the  hardship  imposed  on  the  people  by  the  fearful  debt  was  a  thing  to 
endure  and  descend  upon  the  next  generation,  and  in  the  last  analysis  it  caused 
all  the  trouble. 

No  one  believed  that  the  original  $50,000,  authorized  by  the  legislature, 
would  build  a  satisfactory  courthouse.  A  Springfield,  Illinois,  architect,  E.  E. 
Meyers,  submitted  a  set  of  plans  which  the  commission  approved,  and  he  estim- 
ated the  cost  of  the  building  according  to  these  plans  at  $150,000.  This  sum  the 
people  thought  would  be  about  right.  A  mass  meeting  was  held  in  the  court 
room  of  the  old  building,  at  which  William  Maddox  presided,  and  after  speeches 
by  various  prominent  men,  including  C.  A.  Walker,  a  resolution  was  passed  that 
it  was  the  sense  of  the  meeting  and  the  will  of  the  people  that  a  new  court  house 
be  erected  to  cost  not  to  exceed  $150,000,  and  that  it  be  located  in  the  public 
square. 

With  this  understanding  the  people  were  content  but  when  it  was  found  that 
the  location  was  to  be  changed,  and  when  the  immense  foundation  began  to  take 
form,  every  one  realized  that  the  plan  approved  at  the  mass  meeting  was  being 
ignored  and  $150,000  would  not  be  a  "drop  in  the  bucket"  towards  the  cost  of 
the  building.  No  one  was  permitted  to  see  the  plans  and  no  one  knew  anything 
about  the  matter  except  what  the  casual  look  at  the  big  foundation  told  every 
one. 

Then  Messrs.  Rinaker  and  Walker,  representing  the  people,  prepared  statis- 
tics showing  that  the  building,  if  completed  along  the  lines  evidenced  by  the 
foundation,  would  cost  a  sum,  the  payment  of  which  would  make  necessary  tax 
levies  that  would  be  practically  confiscatory.  These  figures  they  took  to  Spring- 
field, before  the  judicial  committee  of  the  house  of  representatives,  where  a 
bill  was  then  pending  to  authorize  the  county  court  to  expend  any  sum,  with- 
out limit  to  complete  the  courthouse.  The  commissioners  also  appeared  and 
gave  their  word  that  while  the  plans  had  been  enlarged,  the  new  building  would 
not  cost  more  than  $500.000.  Governor  Palmer,  himself  a  Macoupin  county 
man,  wrote  a  letter  to  John  M.  Woodson,  state  senator  from  this  district,  urging 
him  to  secure  the  passage  of  the  bill  which  he  wrote.  The  letter  was  read  to 
the  senate,  the  bill  passed  and  is  the  act  of  gth  of  April,  1869,  approved  by  Gov- 
ernor Palmer.  The  legislature  passed  the  sweeping  bill  which  gave  the  court 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  165 

and  commissioners  authority  to  entail  a  debt  of  $1,380,000,  the  act  setting 
no  limit  whatever  as  to  the  cost. 

Governor  Palmer  was  interested  in  getting  as  fine  a  building  as  practical  in 
this  county,  not  from  any  selfish  motive,  but  because  he  had  a  feeling  of  affection 
and  pride  for  his  home  town  and  county.  He  was  the  dominant  spirit  in  the 
erection  of  the  courthouse.  It  could  never  have  been  built  without  his  aid,  and 
at  every  turn  of  the  game  he  stood  behind  the  county  court  and  the  court  house 
party.  He  did  not  anticipate  the  immense  cost  but  he  did  believe  that  a  $500,000 
building  could  properly  be  erected  and  with  that  idea  he  aided  the  plan.  He 
personally  guaranteed  to  capitalists  who  financed  the  scheme  that  the  court  house 
bonds  would  be  paid,  and  in  summing  up  the  reasons  for  the  increased  cost  of 
the  structure,  we  must  take  Palmer's  influence  into  consideration,  as  it  undoubt- 
edly played  an  important  part. 

But  the  $500,000  was  insufficient.  The  commissioners  and  the  people  began 
to  realize  this  as  the  work  on  the  building  progressed.  The  realization  on  the 
part  of  the  commissioners  brought  chagrin  and  disappointment,  but  they  felt 
that  they  must  carry  the  work  through,  whatever  the  cost.  On  the  part  of  the 
people,  it  brought  anger  and  bitter  feeling  against  those  who  were  saddling  the 
great  debt  upon  them.  The  great  increase  over  the  $500,000  was  brought  about 
very  largely  by  the  fact  that  the  architect,  Meyers,  persuaded  the  commissioners, 
after  the  plans  had  been  accepted,  to  alter  one  certain  and  seemingly  unimpor- 
tant part  of  the  contemplated  structure,  and  this  change  being  agreed  upon  and 
made,  it  soon  developed  that  almost  every  other  part  of  the  building  had  to  be 
changed  to  conformity.  The  expense  became  doubled  again  and  again  until  it 
grew  far  beyond  the  wildest  dreams  of  the  commissioners  and  the  people. 

There  was  some  graft — to  deny  it  would  be  foolish.  But  the  commissioners 
got  none  of  it,  with  probably  one  unfortunate  exception,  and  in  that  case  the 
party  himself  did  not  keep  whatever  money  he  may  have  wrongfully  obtained  in 
the  deal,  and  left  the  county  with  less,  perhaps,  than  he  had  when  the  court 
house  was  first  talked  .of.  The  money  "grafted"  went  to  parties  outside  of  the 
county  and  with  the  possible  exception  noted,  no  man  directly  connected  with 
the  building,  who  could  properly  be  called  a  citizen  of  Macoupin,  got  any  of  the 
money  improperly  spent  on  the  court  house  debt. 

In  this  matter  of  increased  cost,  the  division  of  the  county  theory  also 
played  a  part,  no  doubt,  in  that  the  commissioners  were  afraid  to  turn  back  or 
abandon  the  work  because  the  people  were  in  an  ugly  frame  of  mind  and  would 
gladly  vote  to  divide  the  county  or  do  almost  anything  else  that  would  thwart  the 
plans  of  the  little  courthouse  party,  stop  the  work  and  kill  the  debt.  But  even 
with  all  these  considerations,  it  is  hard  to  understand  how  it  happened  that  the 
commissioners  and  county  court  ever  allowed  the  matter  of  cost  to  get  so  thor- 
oughly beyond  their  control.  The  fairest  appraisers  have  valued  the  structure 
at  $643,876  in  years  past  and  offered  to  give  bond  to  duplicate  it  for  that  sum. 

Some  people  blamed  George  Holliday,  the  county  clerk,  for  some  of  the 
unnecessary  expense.  Mr.  Holliday  was  an  exemplary  citizen  of  this  community 
for  years.  He  lived  in  the  handsome  home  now  occupied  by  ex-Senator  W.  L. 
Mounts  and  family.  He  was  a  scholarly  man  of  considerable  mental  attainment, 
but  before  he  left,  his  name  was  stained  with  scandalous  tales,  including  the  im- 


166  HISTORY  OF  AIACOL'PIX  COUNTY 

proper  expenditure  of  large  sums  of  money.  He  left  Carlinville  on  a  Chicago 
&  Alton  train  one  night  in  the  year  1870  and  has  never  since  been  heard  of.  He 
was  indicted  by  the  grand  jury  after  he  left  for  larceny  and  embezzlement,  and 
as  many  as  fifteen  separate  indictments  were  returned  against  him  at  the  suc- 
ceeding terms  of  circuit  court,  until  at  the  March  term,  1872,  when,  Judge  Arthur 
J.  Gallagher  presiding  in  the  absence  of  Judge  Horatio  M.  Vandeveer,  the  case 
was  stricken  from  the  docket  with  leave  to  reinstate,  at  the  motion  of  the  state's 
attorney.  Capias'  were  issued  from  time  to  time. 

An  extensive  search  was  made  for  Mr.  Holliday,  and  a  man  believed  to  be 
him  was  arrested  in  what  was  then  Washington  Territory.  Deputy  Sheriff  Dan 
Delaney,  who  knew  Holliday  intimately  and  had  been  associated  with  him  in 
Carlinville,  was  sent  after  the  suspect  and  returned  with  a  prisoner.  The  suspect 
was  taken  into  court  and  established  the  fact  that  he  was  not  Holliday.  Only 
two  persons  who  saw  the  man  here  would  say  that  there  was  the  least  doubt  in 
their  minds  that  the  prisoner  might  be  George  Holliday  and  the  rest  of  the 
population  were  very  certain  that  he  was  not  the  man  wanted.  The  suspect  said 
his  name  was  Hall.  He  left  this  part  of  the  country  and  probably  returned 
to  his  western  home,  although  there  is  no  hint  in  the  records  or  in  the  metnory 
of  our  older  citizens  that  any  further  surveillance  was  kept  on  him.  Possibly 
Delaney  thought  it  best  to  bring  the  man  here  so  that  the  people  could  see  for 
themselves  whether  or  not  he  was  Holliday.  The  expense  to  the  county  of  bring- 
ing Hall  here  was  considerable  and  the  county,  of  course,  had  to  pay  the  cost, 
which  caused  considerable  more  argument  and  some  bad  feeling. 


ERECTION    OF  THE  BUILDING. 

Immediately  following  the  March  term  of  the  county  court  in  1867,  the  work 
of  construction  was  commenced.  The  foundation  was  laid  and  the  corner  stone 
put  in  place.  This  corner  stone  was  laid  October  22,  1867,  by  the  Masonic  order, 
and  the  description  thereon  tells  the  story  as  graphically  as  it  can  be  set  down,  as 
follows : 

Laid  by  the  Most  W.  G.  L. 
A.  F.  &  A.  Masons,  by 

Charles  Fisher 

Deputy  Grand  Master. 

October  22d 

A.  L.  5867 

A.  D.  1867 

Building  Commissioners 

A.  McKim  Dubois. 

Geo.  H.  Holliday. 

I.  J.   Peebles. 

T.  L.  Loomis. 

The  above  appears  on  the  east  face  of  the  corner  stone,  and  on  the  north 
face  the  inscription  is : 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  167 

Erected  by  order  of 

County  Court, 
March  Term,  A.  D.  1867. 

County   Court 

Thaddeus  L.  Loomis. 

Isham  J.  Peebles. 

John  Yowell. 

E.  E.  Meyers, 

Architect. 

In  the  corner  stone  there  was  placed  the  following  articles:  Holy  Bible  in 
English  and  German,  the  square  and  compass,  revised  statutes  of  the  state  of 
Illinois,  Charter  and  revised  ordinances  of  the  city  of  Carlinville,  proceedings 
of  the  injunction  case  tried  in  Alton  City  court,  embracing  the  act  of  the  legis- 
lature, orders  of  the  county  court  and  briefs  of  counsel.  This  was  the  case  in 
which  the  people  sought  to  enjoin  the  county  court  from  building  a  new  court 
house.  There  were  also  placed  therein  resolutions  of  a  public  meeting  held  at 
Chesterfield  in  opposition  to  the  erection  of  a  new  court  house,  and  Judge  'Isham 
J.  Peebles'  reply  to  the  same ;  Howell's  map  of  the  county  of  Macoupin,  Muhle- 
man's  map  of  the  city  of  Carlinville,  photograph  of  the  old  court  house,  copies 
of  the  county  newspapers,  the  premium  list  and  poster  of  the  Macoupin  County 
Agricultural  and  Mechanical  Society  for  the  year  1867,  United  States  coin  pre- 
sented by  Joseph  C.  Howell,  and  oration  of  Hon.  John  M.  Woodson  at  the  laying 
of  the  corner  stone. 

The  newspapers  of  that  day  report  that  there  was  only  a  small  crowd  of 
citizens  in  attendance.  The  work  of  construction  was  often  delayed  by  the 
opposition  of  the  anti-court  house  party,  which  included  a  large  percentage  of 
the  people,  but  the  building  was  finally  completed  and  stands  today  the  pride  of 
the  people,  no  matter  whether  they  or  their  ancestors  were  "court  house"  or 
"anti-court  house"  in  days  gone  by. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  BUILDING. 

The  courthouse  as  it  now  stands  is  a  beautiful  structure.  It  is  built  of  brick, 
magnesian  limestone  and  iron  of  choice  and  elegant  design.  It  is  thoroughly  fire 
proof  throughout.  For  the  purpose  of  giving  the  reader  a  better  and  more  cor- 
rect idea  of  the  structure  we  give  a  brief  statement  of  its  dimensions  and  a 
description  of  the  material  that  entered  into  its  construction. 

The  building  is  a  rectangle,  181  feet  in  extreme  breadth,  crossed  at  an  equal 
distance  from  the  north  and  south  ends  by  a  transverse  rectangle  of  smaller 
dimensions  the  plan  resembling  an  elongated  Swiss  cross,  or  a  cross  of  St. 
George,  of  double  width.  It  is  built  after  the  Corinthian  order  of  architecture, 
and  this  classical  model  is  strictly  adhered  to  throughout  the  entire  building. 
It  is  divided  into  three  floors,  basement,  twelve  feet  in  height;  main  floor,  six- 
teen feet  in  height,  and  upper  floor,  occupied  mostly  by  the  court  room,  thirty-two 
feet  in  height.  The  height  of  the  building  from  the  top  of  the  cornice  to  the 
ground,  is  sixty-nine  and  a  half  feet.  Four  iron  columns  resting  on  the  founda- 
tions and  running  up  within  the  walls,  to  the  plumb  of  the  roof,  support  its  cir- 


168  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

cular  iron  band,  from  which  spring  ribs  of  the  dome.  From  the  apex  of  the  dome 
to  the  foundation  it  is  186  feet,  giving  the  dome  an  altitude  of  almost  100  feet. 
Each  story  of  the  building  is  anchored  not  only  to  its  own  walls  but  the  walls 
of  the  other  stories. 

The  main  entrance  is  on  the  north,  and  the  portal  is  reached  by  twenty-two 
stone  steps,  flanked  on  each  side  by  a  low  wall  of  masonry,  capped  with  cut  stone, 
leading  up  to  the  portico.  The  roof  of  the  portico  is  supported  by  four  Cor- 
inthian columns  forty  feet  in  height,  four  feet  in  diameter  at  the  base,  and  three 
and  one  half  feet  at  the  capital.  These  columns  are  composed  of  seven  whole 
blocks  of  dressed  stone,  and  half  of  another.  The  ceiling  of  the  portico  is  all 
of  stone,  forty-seven  by  sixteen  feet,  laid  off  in  three  panels. 

The  south  entrance  has  ten  steps  from  the  level  of  the  street  to  a  terrace 
eight  feet  in  length  and  the  width  of  the  building,  formed  of  square  blocks  of 
cut  stone,  neatly  and  uniformly  laid.  From  the  terrace  there  are  twenty-three 
steps  to  the  portico.  The  steps  to  the  east  and  west  entrances  are  laid  parallel 
with  the  building,  ascending  from  the  north  and  the  south,  and  meeting  upon  a 
platform  before  the  large  entrance  way.  A  balustrade  of  finely  chiseled  stone, 
with  heavy  stone  caps,  flanks  the  steps,  at  the  foot  of  which  on  the  pedestals,  a 
lamp  post  rises  on  each  side  made  to  represent  the  symbol  of  unity,  a  bundle  of 
fagots,  banded  by  a  scroll,  upon  which  is  "Macoupin  County."  At  all  the 
entrances  these  lamp  posts  are  stationed  with  three  heavy  glass  light  chambers, 
about  four  feet  in  height,  gilded  and  bronzed,  surmounting  them.  There  are  five 
entrances  to  the  basement  from  the  court  house  park.  The  ceilings  of  the  base- 
ment are  arched,  and  are  twelve  feet  high.  The  floor  is  laid  in  mosaic,  with 
a  wide  border  of  brown  slate  running  the  length  of  the  side  walls.  The  building 
is  lighted  by  gas  and  heated  by  steam.  There  are  twelve  rooms  on  the  main 
floor,  all  finished  in  the  most  elegant  style  and  manner,  with  marble  floors,  pan- 
elled walls,  chandeliers,  etc.  The  upper  floor  is  reached  by  a  wide,  light  appear- 
ing, yet  strong,  iron  stairway.  The  court  room  has  an  area  of  4.500  square 
feet.  Its  general  dimensions  are  nearly  sixty-four  by  seventy-four  feet,  in  shape 
resembling  a  square  with  a  rectangle  attached  to  it,  projecting  wings  extending 
some  eight  feet  from  the  walls  of  either  side.  It  is  thirty-two  feet  in  height 
from  the  floor  to  the  ceiling,  and  from  the  floor  to  the  apex  of  the  inner  dome  is 
forty-four  feet.  From  this  dome  hangs  suspended  a  magnificent  chandelier  of 
fifty-six  burners,  which  cost  the  sum  of  $3,000.  All  the  inside  work  is  finished 
with  galvanized  iron.  The  pilasters  are  of  cast  iron,  ceilings  and  walls  of  gal- 
vanized iron,  heavy  cornice  and  moldings  of  the  same.  The  walls  are  in  tall 
shield  like  panels,  surmounted  above  alternate  panels  by  appropriate  devices. 
Twelve  windows,  six  on  each  side,  furnish  ingress  to  the  light.  The  windows 
have  four  panes  of  glass  each,  besides  the  rose  shaped  circle  of  colored  glass  at 
the  top,  and  are  fully  twenty  feet  in  height.  The  judges'  stand,  on  the  south 
side,  projects  about  eight  feet  out  into  the  room.  It  is  made  of  five  different 
kinds  of  marble  after  the  style  of  Henry  VI.  of  France,  and  is  the  finest  in  the 
country.  The  judges'  chair  is  an  elegant  one  of  the  Elizabethian  period,  tall, 
richly  carved  square  shaped  back,  arms  and  legs.  It  is  about  seven  feet  in 
height  and  upholstered  with  crimson  velvet.  Adjacent  to  the  court  room  are 
the  judges'  private  apartments,  jury  rooms,  and  rooms  for  officers  of  the  court 


MACOUPIX  COUNTY  COURTHOUSE  IX  1910 


LIBRARY 

OF  1HE 

UNIVERSHV  OF  n  UNOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  169 

The  roof  is  formed  of  wrought  and  cast  iron,  and  covered  by  corrugated  gal- 
vanized iron.  The  dome  is  formed  of  wrought  iron  ribs,  springing  from  a  heavy 
iron  band,  which  are  braced  by  cross  trusses,  the  whole  covered  by  galvanized 
iron,  close  to  the  roof.  On  the  south  side  is  a  galvanized  iron  tank  that  holds  the 
water  pumped  by  the  engine  below,  and  from  which  pipes  convey  the  water  to 
all  parts  of  the  building.  The  capacity  of  the  tank  is  about  8,000  gallons. 

The  structure  is  as  near  fire-proof  as  the  ingenuity  of  man  could  make  it,  and 
in  this  regard  and  in  many  other  respects  is  truly  remarkable  when  one  com- 
pares it  to  the  so-called  fire-proof  buildings  of  modern  times. 

Time  has  made  itself  felt  and  with  the  assistance  of  the  elements  has  changed 
the  appearance  of  the  structure.  The  beautiful  stone  has  taken  on  a  buff,  creamy 
color  that  does  not  detract  but  enhances  its  appearance,  but  here  and  there  a 
stone  or  two  has  scaled  and  crumbled  to  a  comparatively  slight  extent ;  from 
other  stones  pieces  have  broken  off  and  left  holes  that  are  rather  unsightly.  The 
interior  has  never  been  touched  by  the  artisan  since  its  construction  and  has  been 
for  some  time  demanding  attention.  At  the  June  sitting  of  the  board  of  super- 
visors, in  1911,  provision  was  made  for  a  thorough  renovation  of  the  first,  or 
office  floor.  When  this  work  is  completed,  other  repairs  will  be  made,  so  that 
in  a  year  or  two  from  this  time,  the  whole  structure  will  have  been  entirely  re- 
paired and  brought  back  to  its  pristine  beauty  and  sightliness. 

A    TIME    OF    GREAT    REJOICING. 

On  Wednesday,  July  21,  1910,  began  the  carefully  arranged  jubilee  of  two 
days'  duration  at  Carlinville  and  thousands  upon  thousands  of  men,  women  and 
children  were  on  hand  to  take  part  in  the  unusual  event.  The  double-column 
"scare  head"  in  the  Enquirer  told  the  tale  in  a  nutshell  in  the  following  words: 

"Jubilee  and  Celebration  Success  in  Every  Detail.  One  of  the  Most  Im- 
portant Epochs  in  Events  in  the  County  Has  Passed  Into  History.  The  Results 
Far  Exceeded  Everybody's  Expectations.  Twenty  Thousand  People  Attended 
the  Exercises  Thursday  and  Half  as  Many  Were  Here  Wednesday — Every 
Feature  was  Remarkable  down  to  Smallest  Detail. 

"Every  feature  of  the  program  was  carried  out  faultlessly  and  just  as  nearly 
on  time  as  circumstances  would  permit.  From  the  opening,  with  a  band  concert 
by  our  own  fine  Carlinville  Band,  on  the  east  portico  of  the  court  house  Wed- 
nesday at  i  :3O  P.  M.  to  the  closing,  with  a  display  of  fireworks  and  natural  gas 
and  oil  Thursday  night,  there  was  not  a  serious  hitch  anywhere.  The  committee 
that  handled  the  affairs  were  the  following: 

"Supervisors,  H.  W.  Rice,  Charles  Muhlenbeck,  S.  E.  French,  J.  A.  Turner, 
R.  S.  Hemphill ;  mayor  and  councilmen,  Jesse  Peebles,  Dr.  Matthews,  Thomas 
O'Connor,  Louis  Gouch,  August  Zaepffel.  Citizens,  George  J.  Castle,  Dr.  Fischer, 
J.  E.  McClire,  C.  J.  Lumpkin,  E.  C.  Knotts,  Thomas  Sweeney. 

THE    BOND    BURNING. 

"The  actual  burning  of  the  bond  was,  of  course,  the  main  feature.  The  docu- 
ment was  numbered  720,  and  was  one  of  the  series  of  funding  bonds  issued  under 


170  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

the  Act  of  the  Legislature  in  1865.  It  was  the  last  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
bonds  of  $1,000  each,  dated  July  i,  1898.  It  was  signed  by  John  W.  Dalby, 
chairman  of  the  board  of  supervisors  at  that  time,  and  countersigned  by  Fred  G. 
Oeltjen,  county  clerk. 

"At  the  exercises  in  the  courthouse  square  Thursday  afternoon,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  everyone  who  could  get  within  sight  or  sound  of  the  speaker's  stand, 
Governor  Charles  S.  Deneen  received  this  bond  from  the  hands  of  County 
Clerk  W.  C.  Seehausen,  who  carried  it  from  his  office  to  the  speaker's  stand 
for  that  purpose.  The  Governor  then  held  the  paper  in  a  flame  of  burning 
natural  gas  from  a  half-inch  pipe  extended  to  the  stand  from  the  court  house, 
set  fire  to  the  bond  in  that  way  and  held  it  until  it  was  almost  entirely  consumed, 
then  dropped  the  remaining  piece,  the  corner  by  which  he  held  the  bond,  and 
which  was  still  burning,  to  the  ground  immediately  in  front  of  the  stand,  where 
it  was  entirely  consumed. 

"Standing  close  to  the  Governor,  as  witnesses  of  the  destruction  of  the  bond 
were:  W.  C.  Seehausen,  county  clerk;  D.  M.  Bates,  chairman  of  the  board  of 
supervisors  of  Carlinville  township ;  Charles  Muhlenbeck,  of  Virden  township ; 
H.  W.  Rice,  of  Cahokia  township ;  R.  S.  Hemphill,  of  Carlinville  township ;  J.  A. 
Turner,  of  Scottville  township ;  and  Samuel  French,  of  Shipman  township.  The 
gas  flame  was  lighted  by  Mayor  Jesse  Peebles  of  Carlinville.  Besides  these 
there  were  on  the  stand  State  Auditor  J.  S.  McCullough,  Adjutant  General 
Frank  Dickson,  ex-President  of  United  Mine  Workers  of  America  John  Mitchell, 
Circuit  Judges  James  M.  Creighton  and  Robert  B.  Shirley,  and  numerous  other 
officials  and  prominent  men  in  the  county,  -state  and  nation,  including  Congress- 
men James  M.  Graham  and  William  A.  Rodenberg  and  ex-Congressman  Ben  F. 
Caldwell,  and  others  too  numerous  to  mention  here,  many  of  them  being  citizens 
of  our  county  and  town. 

"While  the  bond  was  burning  every  bell  and  whistle,  not  only  in  Carlinville 
but  in  every  city,  town  and  hamlet  in  Macoupin  county,  including  wayside  schools 
and  churches,  sounded  for  about  five  minutes.  The  vast  crowd  in  the  court 
house  park  sang  two  stanzas  of  'America,'  bombs  were  fired  on  the  streets  nearby 
and  there  were  prolonged  cheers  and  shouts  of  'Glory!  Hallelujah!'  " 

SPORTS    AND   SPEECHES. 

Features  of  the  glorification  consisted  of  addresses  by  Governor  Charles  S. 
Deneen,  Hon.  C.  A.  Walker,  General  John  I.  Rinaker,  Hon.  W.  E.  P.  Anderson, 
John  Mitchell,  head  of  the  United  Mine  Workers  of  America,  Congressman 
James  M.  Graham,  Jesse  Peebles,  Mayor,  and  others.  And  there  were  fire 
works,  parachute  leaping,  a  marathon  race,  natural  gas  and  oil  display  and 
many  other  amusements  not  here  enumerated,  all  of  which  was  topped  off  by 
luncheons  served  to  the  speakers  and  distinguished  visiting  guests,  in  the  parlors 
of  the  M.  E.  church,  which  were  in  charge  of  ladies  of  the  Aid  Society. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

CIVIL  WAR. 

PATRIOTIC  MACOUPIN  AND  HER  SPLENDID  RECORD  IN  THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE 

STATES FIRST  REGIMENT  IN  ILLINOIS  ORGANIZED  AT  CARLINVILLE  IN  RESPONSE 

TO  LINCOLN'S  FIRST  CALL  FOR  TROOPS — HISTORY  OF  THE  BRAVE  MEN  WHO  WENT 
TO  THE  FRONT FULL  ROSTER  OF  THOSE  WHO  SERVED  FROM  THIS  COUNTY. 

SEVENTH  INFANTRY. 

The  distinction  of  being  the  first  regiment  organized  in  the  state  of  Illi- 
nois under  the  first  call  of  the  president  for  three  months'  troops  is  claimed 
by  both  the  Seventh  and  the  Eighth  Infantries.  Companies  F  and  K  of  the 
Seventh  were  recruited  in  Macoupin  county.  J.  F.  Cummings  was  captain  of 
Company  F,  and  William  O.  Jenks  and  C.  F.  Adams  were  first  and  second 
lieutenants.  Richard  Rowett,  afterward  general  by  brevet,  was  captain  of 
Company  K  and  his  lieutenants  were  Manning  Mayfield  and  George  Hunter. 
The  Seventh  was  mustered  into  service  for  three  months  at  Camp  Yates  by 
Captain  John  Pope,  U.  S.  A.  The  regiment  was  sent  to  Alton,  St.  Louis,  Cairo 
and  Mound  City  and  was  reorganized  and  mustered  in  for  three  years,  July 
25th.  It  did  duty  in  Missouri  and  went  into  winter  quarters  at  Fort  Holt, 
Kentucky.  It  was  at  the  investment  and  siege  of  Fort  Donaldson,  February 
13,  14  and  15  and  was  in  the  last  charge  on  the  enemy's  works,  when  it  lost 
three  killed  and  nineteen  wounded.  On  the  2ist  of  the  same  month,  1862,  it 
left  for  Clarksville,  Tennessee,  Major  Rowett  commanding.  It  was  ordered 
to  Nashville  and  Pittsburg  Landing,  and  was  engaged  in  the  two  days'  battle 
of  Shiloh,  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Rowett.  Its  loss  was  two 
officers  and  fifteen  men  killed  and  seventy-nine  wounded.  It  was  engaged  both 
days  in  the  battle  of  Corinth  with  a  loss  of  two  officers  and  six  men  killed 
and  forty-six  wounded. 

On  the  1 8th  of  June,  1862,  the  regiment  was  mounted  by  order  of  General 
Dodge  and  did  most  excellent  service  on  scouting  expeditions  under  Colonel 
Rowett,  being  engaged  in  many  severe  skirmishes  and  making  an  enviable  rec- 
ord for  bravery  and  efficiency. 

December  22,  1863,  the  regiment  reenlisted  as  veteran  volunteers.  They 
did  valiant  service  under  Sherman  and  were  with  him  in  the  battles  around 
Atlanta  and  on  the  memorable  march  to  the  sea.  The  regiment  was  mustered 
out  July  9,  1865,  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  arrived  at  Camp  Butler,  July  12, 
1865,  for  final  payment  and  discharge. 

171 


172  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Company  A. 

Corporal,   Isaac   D.   Newell ;  musician,   Francis  D.    Orcutt. 
Privates:  John  Brand,  Phillip  F.  Howell,  John  C.  Myers. 

Company  F. 

Captain,  J.  F.  Cummings;  first  lieutenant,  William  O.  Jenks;  second  lieu- 
tenant, C.  F.  Adams ;  sergeants,  Henry  Allen,  Thomas  B.  Atchison,  Thomas 
H.  Gildemeister,  Eldridge  Atchison;  corporals,  Josiah  Lee,  Marshall  Allen, 
Samuel  L.  Moore,  John  E.  Barnes,  John  McTirk,  Henry  Hoagland,  Stanley 
March ;  musicians,  Frederick  W.  Cross,  Charles  T.  Grubbs. 

Privates :  Hiram  R.  Andrews,  George  W.  Bickner,  William  B.  Button,  Wyatt 
Brownlee,  Charles  T.  Carroll,  Christopher  Camp,  James  Crocker,  Frederick 
Davis,  Edward  C.  Ellet,  John  Flanagan,  Henry  Hillier,  Bernard  T.  Hetge, 
George  James,  John  E.  Larkin,  Charles  P.  Laing,  Henry  Luther,  William  B. 
Moore,  Joshua  S.  March,  Thomas  Landgrin,  Columbus  Ryan,  James  F.  Roady, 
Henry  Robbins,  Jacob  Scheer,  Samuel  Smith,  Hiram  Schmoleske,  Roswell  C. 
Staples,  George  W.  T.  Taylor,  Jabez  Walker,  Robert  M.  Walton. 

Recruits:  Henry  Anderson,  Augustus  E.  Allen,  John  H.  Becker,  George 
Brenton,  David  E.  Fruit,  Henry  C.  Hall,  John  P.  Hale,  Henry  Hovey,  Phillip 
Himmel,  Tim  Partridge,  Henry  W.  Phillips,  Taylor  Smith,  Eldridge  Walton, 
Adolph  Wendt,  Stanley  March,  Hugh  H.  Porter,  Augustus  E.  Allen,  Marshall 
Allen,  William  Britton,  John  E.  Barnes,  Norman  Tarr,  David  E.  Fruit,  John 
M.  Firk,  William  W.  Glasgow,  Robert  B.  Kelly,  Henry  Lubker,  Josiah  Lee, 
James  Mathie. 

Company  I. 

Recruit,  Silas  T.  Combs. 

Company  K. 

Captain,  Richard  Rowett ;  first  lieutenant,  Manning  Mayfield ;  second  lieu- 
tenant, George  Hunter. 

Privates,  John  M.  Anderson,  William  Ashbaugh,  Luther  Boyer,  John  W. 
Bowman. 

Recruits,  Charles  H.  Billings,  Jesse  C.  Botkin,  Lucius  C.  Carr,  Albert  H. 
Duff,  William  W.  Dorman,  Jacob  De  Roga,  Edmond  J.  De  Len,  Charles  W. 
Ferguson,  William  D.  Graham,  Harrison  Hodges,  Moses  T.  Jones.  Jesse  C. 
Jones,  Joseph  S.  McMillen,  Duncan  McMillen,  Lewis  B.  More,  Grundy  McGlure, 
John  H.  Morris,  George  W.  Parker,  Charles  Ferine,  William  Rusher,  Henry 
Ramey,  James  H.  Skaggs,  James  P.  B.  Shepherd,  John  P.  Van  Dyke,  William 
H.  Van  Horn. 

Veterans,  Martin  V.  Davis,  John  D.  Davis,  Elbert  M.  Enos.  John  D.  Eddy, 
Joseph  Fearn,  Washington  Forsythe,  Thomas  Hoffman,  Henry  Hampton,  John 
Hoke,  Martin  V.  Kellner,  Martin  J.  Langford,  Felix  Lane,  David  A.  Lewis, 
Winford  Mitchel,  Phillip  H.  Mear,  Joseph  Pedgett,  George  H.  Palmer,  Hiram 
Russell,  William  Roper,  Theobald  Steinberg,  James  H.  Strayes.  William  Schade- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  173 

wetz,  Wallace  Smith,  Joseph  B.  Sanders,  Richard  Taylor,  Joseph  White,  Julius 
Wolff. 

Unassigned   recruits,    Nathan    D.   Atchison,   Robert   J.    Cowper,   James   H. 
Gargus. 

EIGHTH    INFANTRY  REGIMENT. 

Company  H. 
Private,  James  Larner. 

FOURTEENTH    INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  first  called  into  state  service  for  thirty  days  under  the 
•"Ten  Regiment  Bill,"  Colonels  John  M.  Palmer  and  Cyrus  Hall  commanding. 
It  was  mustered  into  service  May  4,  1861,  and  on  the  25th  of  May  was  mus- 
tered in  for  three  years  by  Captain  Pitcher  U.  S.  A.  It  remained  at  Jackson- 
ville for  instruction  until  the  latter  part  of  June  and  then  proceeded  to  Quincy, 
thence  to  Missouri.  It  was  with  Fremont  on  his  campaign  to  Springfield  after 
Price  and  went  into  winter  quarters  at  Otterville.  It  was  ordered  to  Fort 
Donaldson,  reaching  that  place  the  day  after  its  surrender.  Palmer  was  pro- 
moted and  Major  Hall  of  the  Seventh  Illinois  Cavalry  was  promoted  to  colonel. 

From  Fort  Donaldson  it  proceeded  to  Fort  Henry,  when  it  embarked  on 
transports  and  proceeded  up  the  Tennessee.  The  first  battle  in  which  it  took 
part  was  at  Pittsburg  Landing  on  the  6th  and  7th  of  April,  1862,  where  it  lost 
in  killed  and  wounded  one-half  the  command,  and  the  regimental  colors  were 
pierced  with  forty-two  bullets.  General  Veatch,  commanding  brigade,  in  his 
official  report  made  the  following  statement :  "Colonel  Hall,  of  the  Fourteenth 
Illinois,  led  with  his  regiment  that  gallant  charge  on  Monday  evening,  which 
drove  the  enemy  beyond  our  lines  and  closed  the  struggle  of  that  memorable 
day."  It  took  an  active  part  in  the  siege  of  Corinth,  thence  went  to  Memphis 
and  later  to  Bolivar,  Tennessee. 

October  4,  1862,  the  Fourth  Division,  under  Hurlbut,  was  ordered  to  pro- 
ceed to  Corinth  to  relieve  the  beleagured  garrison,  but  before  that  place  was 
reached  Rosecrans  had  punished  the  enemy  and  they  met  the  retreating  rebels 
at  the  village  of  Matamora,  on  the  river  Hatchie.  The  Fourteenth  Illinois  in 
its  eight  hours'  fight,  sustained  its  high  reputation.  After  a  march  into  north- 
ern Mississippi  under  McPherson,  it  went  into  winter  quarters  at  LaFayette, 
Tennessee.  It  was  at  Vicksburg  and  in  the  expedition  to  Jackson.  After  ardu- 
ous marches  to  Natchez,  thence  across  to  Harrisonburg,  it  captured  Fort  Beau- 
regard.  After  the  return  a  large  portion  reenlisted  as  veterans.  After  a  fur- 
lough it  formed  a  part  of  the  advance  on  Atlanta.  Here  it  was  consolidated 
with  the  Fifteenth  into  the  Fourteenth  and  Fifteenth  Illinois  Veteran  Bat- 
talion. In  October,  1864,  when  General  Hood  made  his  demonstration  against 
Sherman's  rear,  a  large  number  of  the  battalion  were  killed  and  the  greater 
part  of  the  remainder  were  taken  prisoners  and  sent  to  Andersonville.  Those 
who  were  not  captured  were  mounted  and  acted  as  scouts  on  the  march  to  the 
sea.  At  Goldsboro,  North  Carolina,  in  the  spring  of  1865,  the  battalion  organi- 
zation was  discontinued.  The  two  regiments  were  filled  up  and  Colonel 


174  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Hall  was  again  put  in  command  of  the  Fourteenth.  After  the  capitulation  of 
Johnson,  the  regiment  marched  to  Washington  and  on  the  24th  of  May  took 
part  in  the  grand  review  of  Sherman's  army.  It  then  proceeded  by  rail  and 
river  to  Louisville,  thence  by  river  to  Fort  Leavenworth,  and  to  Fort  Kearney 
and  back,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  September  16,  1865, 
arriving  in  Springfield,  Illinois,  on  the  22d  of  September,  where  it  received 
final  payment  and  discharge. 

The  aggregate  number  of  men  belonging  to  this  regiment  was  1,980;  aggre- 
gate mustered  out  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  480;  during  the  term  of  service  it 
marched  4,490,  traveled  by  rail,  2,330,  and  by  river,  4,490  miles,  making  art 
aggregate  of  11,310  miles. 

In  the  fall  of  1861  General  John  M.  Palmer,  first  colonel  of  the  Fourteenth 
Regiment,  was  appointed  brigadier  general.  He  served  in  the  army  under 
Hunter  and  Pope  in  Missouri  and  also  commanded  a  division  in  Pope's  expedi- 
tion against  Island  No.  10.  His  command  formed  a  part  of  Pope's  army,  when 
he  joined  Halleck's  command  in  his  operations  against  Corinth  in  1862,  and 
also  participated  in  the  battle  of  Farmington.  After  the  battle  of  Murfrees- 
boro,  December  31,  1862,  he  was  promoted  to  major  general,  where  he  dis- 
tinguished himself  and  also  did  signal  service  for  his  country  in  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga. 

The  officers  of  this  regiment  were :  Drum  major,  William  P.  Emory ;  ad- 
jutant, C.  Ward  Lang;  first  assistant  surgeon,  Samuel  A.  Davidson. 

Company  C. 

Sergeants  Charles  Quimmerman,  Rufus  Mayfield;  corporals,  William  M. 
Cherry,  David  K.  Kitzmiller,  George  N.  Yowell,  John  W.  Phillips,  George  B. 
Weed,  Joseph  L.  King;  wagoner,  James  A.  Smith. 

Privates,  John  B.  Anderson,  Henry  Boax,  William  H.  Bainbridge,  William 
Bagley,  William  P.  Bales,  L.  C.  Carr,  Michael  Cooney,  Henry  A.  Chesley, 
Jerry  Dunn,  Orange  Drake,  James  Dale,  James  Deaton,  Laban  B.  Faulkner, 
Bartholomew  Gartland,  George  W.  Hall,  George  F.  Hart,  William  Hughes, 
Neum  Hapger,  Robert  Jones,  William  A.  Jones,  George  Jones,  Moses  T.  Jones, 
Elias  Kurtz,  Solomon  Kendley,  Martin  Kennedy,  Amet  Kiel,  George  Lott, 
William  Lemsan,  William  L.  Mackey,  Thomas  M.  Mackey,  William  Morris, 
John  McMarrow,  Hilbra  Moulder,  Roberg  A.  McKinnie,  William  E.  Milton, 
John  O'Neil,  Vincent  J.  Patten,  James  Queen,  John  Riley,  Terry  Riley,  Leo- 
pold T.  Renter,  John  E.  Reed,  Patrick  J.  Spinners,  Thomas  Sparks,  William 
Stauterry,  Edward  Shearman,  William  Wright,  Gustavus  Wirzberger,  William 
E.  West,  Marshall  Young. 

Veterans,  Henry  Boch,  David  L.  Baker,  P.  H.  Cherry,  L.  A.  Faulkner, 
George  W.  Jones,  William  E.  Milton,  James  Quinn,  Adam  Smith. 

Recruits,  John  Duncan,  Charles  E.  Dalrymple,  James  Taughnen,  Thomas 
Haynes,  Josiah  Haynes,  John  H.  Hall,  John  D.  Jones,  Thomas  W.  Jones,  James 
Morgan,  Asher  F.  Neeley,  Quincy  A.  Palmer,  Adam  Smith,  Franklin  Walker, 
Aaron  Artman,  Barnes  Hanley,  Theodore  Winnis. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  175 

Company  D. 

Captain,  John  H.  Henderson;  first  lieutenant,  George  R.  Pinkard;  sergeant, 
John  H.  Henderson;  musician,  Frederick  R.  Gray. 

Privates,  Thomas  D.  Barton,  John  G.  Davis,  Philemore  Grant,  James  Gray, 
Thomas  Kidd,  Henry  H.  Jennings,  Samuel  Sanders,  Samuel  Walker,  Mark 
Tracey,  Charles  H.  Barton,  John  H.  Henderson,  Francis  M.  Sharp,  Jacob 
Shelburn,  Augustus  Shelburn,  Samuel  Sanders,  Samuel  Walker. 

Recruits,  W.  R.  Crocker,  Samuel  Culbertson,  John  A.  Fitzpatrick,  Thomas  B. 
Hulse.  James  Kidd,  Frank  M.  Martin,  Jasper  Ooley,  Ira  J.  Picket,  Preston  B. 
Sharp,  Francis  M.  Sharp,  Malcom  Tunstall. 

Company  F. 

Corporal,  George  R.   Pinkard. 

Privates,  Michael  Dwyer,  Wilhelm  Greiner,   Henry  Voege,   William   Wise. 

Company  H. 
Private,  Lawrence  M.  Reck  ford. 

VETERAN    BATTALION,    FOURTEENTH    AND    FIFTEENTH    INFANTRY. 

N  on-Commissioned  staff — Commission  sergeant,  Samuel  Sanders;  drum 
major,  Daniel  Baker. 

Company  A. 
Recruits,  Andrew  J.  Cessna,  John  D.  Oldham,  Jacob  Wagner. 

Company  B. 
Privates,  Charles  Barden,  Charles  Dalrymple,  Thomas  Haynes,  Josiah  Haynes. 

Company  D. 

Sergeant,  Thomas  J.  Kidd. 

Privates,  Augustus  Shelburn,  John  F.  Cole,  Samuel  Culbertson,  William  R. 
Crockett,  Abraham  Fallard,  John  A.  Fitzpatrick,  Thomas  B.  Hulse,  Simon  J. 
Kidd,  Francis  M.  Martin,  William  E.  Milton,  Jasper  D.  Ooley,  George  R.  Pinkard, 
Ira  J.  Pickett,  Francis  M.  Sharp,  Jacob  Shelburn,  Mark  Tracey,  Samuel  Walker. 

Company  F. 

First  sergeant,  John  D.  Jones ;  sergeant,  Wilbur  F.  Randle ;  corporal,  Peterson 
H.  Cherry. 

Privates,  Henry  Bock,  Laban  A.  Faulkner,  George  W.  Jones,  Asher  F.  Neeley, 
Adam  Smith,  Edward  Sherman,  Franklin  Walker. 

Recruits,  Daniel  Baker,  James  Quinn,  Samuel  Sanders. 


176  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

FOURTEENTH    (reorganized)    INFANTRY   REGIMENT. 

Commission  sergeant,  Samuel  Sanders;  drum  major,  Daniel  L.  Baker. 

Company  A. 

Privates,  Absalon  Bridges,  Andrew  J.  Cessna,  John  D.  Oldham,  Jacob  Wagner. 

Company  D. 

Sergeant,  Thomas  J.  Kidd ;  corporal,  Augustus  Shelburn. 

Privates,  John  F.  Cole,  Samuel  Culbertson,  William  R.  Crockett,  Abraham 
Folliard,  John  A.  Fitzpatrick,  Thomas  B.  Hulse,  Simon  J.  Kidd,  Francis  M. 
Martin,  William  E.  Milton,  Jaspar  D.  Ooley,  Ira  D.  Pickett,  F.  M.  Sharp,  J.  Shel- 
burn, Mark  Tracey,  Samuel  Walker. 

Company  E. 

First  sergeant,  Ezra  P.  Bryant;  sergeant,  John  J.  Hulse;  corporals,  John  C. 
Alford,  William  Farley. 

Privates,  Mathew  M.  Alford,  Anderson  Baudy,  John  Bruner,  Fordyce  C. 
Childs,  John  F.  Friend,  William  Gardner,  William  Gros,  Alexander  Hart,  William 
Hambee,  Ernest  Hussinger,  James  H.  Jones,  Barney  McDonald,  Stephen  D.  Mc- 
Withey,  William  T.  Reid,  Phillip  Smith,  Adam  Stamp,  John  R.  M.  Sexton, 
William  V.  F.  Thompson,  Cornelius  N.  Tosh,  Hubert  Walter. 

Company  F. 

First  sergeant,  John  D.  Jones ;  sergeants,  Wilbur  C.  Campbell,  Thomas  W. 
Jones ;  corporal,  Peterson  H.  Cherry. 

Privates.  Henry  Bock,  Daniel  Baker,  Laban  A.  Faulkner,  George  W.  Jones, 
Asher  F.  Neeley,  James  Quinn,  Adam  Smith,  Edward  Sherman,  Franklin  Walker. 

Company  G. 
Charles  Dalrymple,  Thomas  Haynes,  Josiah  Haynes. 

Company  K. 
William  Dearth,  Andrew  McGaffey,  John  F.  Seavey. 

TWENTY-FOURTH   INFANTRY   REGIMENT. 

Company  C. 
First  lieutenant,  Edward  Lohman. 

TWENTY-EIGHTH    (Consolidated)    INFANTRY   REGIMENT. 

Adjutant,  John  B.  F.  Mead. 

Company  H. 

First  sergeant,  John  W.  Bossinger ;  sergeant,  James  W.  Edwards ;  corporals, 
Wesley  Snell,  Timothy  M.  Gates,  Daniel  Powers,  John  W.  Walker. 


OLD   MILL  AT   PALMYRA— BUILT  IX   1856 


NEW  HIGH  SCHOOL  BUILDING:  PALMYRA 


UBRAW 

OF  TH£ 

Of  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  177 

Privates,  William  L.  Arnett,  William  C.  Adcock,  Robert  A.  Allen,  William 
Brackhous,  Charles  Bossinger,  Benjamin  F.  Cowell,  James  B.  Chandry,  John  C. 
Cox,  Franklin  J.  Crutchfield,  John  T.  Ford,  Charles  M.  Ford,  William  Ford, 
Ludwick  Henderson,  Peter  H.  Henderson,  John  Handley,  John  R.  Hoffman, 
John  McGiven,  Frank  Missick,  John  J.  Morrison,  John  F.  O'Neil,  John  H.  Old- 
hausen,  James  Pierce,  August  Quellmale,  Robert  Snell,  Moses  McD.  Smith, 
Thomas  Torey,  Samuel  M.  Voyles,  Elisha  Wyatt,  William  Webb,  Frienier  West, 
Uriah  J.  Williams,  Marion  West. 

TWENTY-SEVENTH    ILINOIS    REGIMENT. 

Company  F  of  the  Twenty-seventh  Regiment  was  composed  of  Macoupin 
county  volunteers  and  was  first  commanded  by  Jonathan  R.  Miles,  who  later  be- 
came colonel  of  the  regiment.  This  company  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  Au- 
gust 10,  1861,  was  ordered  to  Jacksonville,  thence  to  Cairo  and  in  September  was 
in  the  battle  of  Belmont.  It  was  the  first  to  land  on  Island  No.  10  and  was  en- 
gaged in  the  siege  of  Corinth  and  in  the  battle  of  Farmington.  In  July,  1862,  it 
was  ordered  to  luka  and  in  December,  under  General  Palmer,  it  crossed  the 
Tennessee  at  Decatur,  Alabama,  and  made  a  rapid  march  for  Nashville,,  reaching 
that  place  on  the  I2th.  It  distinguished  itself  in  the  battle  of  Stone  River  and  suf- 
fered heavy  loss  at  Chickamauga,  was  in  Chattanooga  during  its  investment  and 
did  valiant  service  at  the  storming  of  Mission  Ridge.  It  made  a  forced  march 
to  the  relief  of  Knoxville,  returned  to  London,  Tennessee,  January  25,  1864,  and 
on  the  i8th  of  April,  was  ordered  to  Cleveland,  Tennessee.  From  the  latter  place 
it  moved  with  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  on  the  Atlanta  campaign,  was 
engaged  at  Rocky  Face  Ridge,  May  9;  at  Resaca,  May  14;  near  Calhoun,  May  16; 
Adairsville,  May  17;  near  Dallas  from  May  26  to  June  4;  near  Pine  Top  Moun- 
tain, June  10-14;  battle  of  Mud  Creek,  June  18;  in  the  assault  on  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  June  27; -skirmished  about  the  vicinity  of  Chattahootchie  River,  was 
in  the  battle  of  Peach  -Tree  Creek,  July  20 ;  in  the  skirmishes  around  Atlanta ; 
was  relieved  from  duty  August  25,  1864;  and  ordered  to  Springfield  for  muster 
out.  Its  veterans  and  recruits  consolidated  with  the  Ninth  Illinois  Infantry. 
During  its  time  of  service  the  regiment  lost  in  those  killed  or  dying  from  wounds, 
102 ;  died  of  disease,  80 ;  number  of  wounded,  328. 

TWENTY-NINTH  INFANTRY  REGIMENT. 

Company  I. 

Corporal,  C.  Dennison;  musician,  James  Dennison. 

Privates,  John  H.  Climer,  David  Climer,  E.  W.  Dawe,  Christy  Malga,  Thomas 
McReavy,  Jacob  Thison. 

Recruit,  Lawrence  Connor. 

THIRTIETH   INFANTRY. 

Company  H  of  this  regiment  was  recruited  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  William 
C.  Rhodes.  After  his  promotion,  Henry  W.  Strang  became  captain.  The  regi- 


178  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

ment  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  August  28,  1861,  Colonel  P.  B.  Fouke  com- 
manding. On  the  ist  of  September  it  moved  to  Cairo,  forming  a  part  of  McCIer- 
nand's  Brigade.  November  7  it  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Belmont,  doing 
gallant  service  and  capturing  Watson's  New  Orleans  Battery.  It  was  in  Oglesby's 
Brigade  at  the  capture  of  Fort  Henry  and  took  part  in  the  siege  of  Corinth,  and 
in  the  siege  and  capture  of  Fort  Donaldson.  On  the  ist  of  September  it  marched 
toward  Medan  Station.  Four  miles  from  that  place  it  met  six  thousand  cavalry 
under  Armstrong  and  after  four  hours'  hard  fighting  gained  a  brilliant  victory. 
After  hard  service  and  marching  from  place  to  place  it  reached  Memphis  Janu- 
ary 19,  1863.  In  May  it  was  in  the  battle  of  Raymond,  Mississippi,  and  on  the 
1 6th  of  that  month  was  in  the  battle  of  Champion  Hills,  where  it  met  with  a 
heavy  loss.  It  participated  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  until  June  23,  then  moved  to 
Black  River  under  Sherman,  to  watch  Johnson;  was  with  Sherman  in  the 
investment  of  Jackson,  after  which  it  returned  to  Vicksburg  July  25.  It  was 
mustered  in  as  a  veteran  organization  January  i,  1864;  was  under  Sherman  on 
the  Meridian  campaign ;  March  5  left  Vicksburg  on  a  veteran  furlough,  arriving 
at  Camp  Butler  March  12.  It  left  Camp  Butler  April  18;  left  Cairo  on  the  28th 
with  the  Tennessee  River  Expedition  under  General  Gresham ;  joined  Sherman 
at  Acworth ;  was  in  the  battle  near  Atlanta,  July  21,  and  on  the  22cl  was  engaged 
and  lost  heavily.  It  was  actively  engaged  until  the  fall  of  Atlanta  and  Jones- 
boro;  Ocober  4.  1864,  moved  north  in  pursuit  of  Hood;  returned  to  Atlanta  and 
on  the  1 5th  of  November  participated  in  the  march  to  the  sea.  It  took  part  in 
the  capture  of  Savannah,  December  21 ;  moved  by  water  to  Beaufort,  January  13. 
and  took  part  in  the  capture  of  Pocotaligo;  on  the  3Oth  marched  to  Goldsboro, 
North  Carolina.  March  25,  1865,  was  engaged  during  the  march  in  the  capture 
of  Orangeburg,  Columbia,  Cheraw  and  Fayetteville,  and  arrived  at  Raleigh  on 
the  I4th,  where  it  remained  until  Johnson's  surrender.  It  arrived  at  Alexandria. 
Virginia.  May  19,  and  took  part  in  the  grand  review.  It  was  mustered  out  of 
service,  July  17,  1865,  arriving  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  July  20.  It  was  dis- 
charged July  27,  1865. 

Company  H. 

First  sergeant,  John  W.  Palmer;  wagoner,  Andrew  Foiey. 

Privates,  Harmon  Abies,  Joseph  Boyles,  John  W.  Constant,  Archibald  Carter, 
Daniel  Chany,  Nelson  M.  Constant,  Marman  A.  Constant,  John  Greenwood,  Ed- 
ward Grimes,  Isaac  Graves,  James  Gaston,  Horace  Gambol,  Simeon  Hornbuckle, 
Archibald  Honley,  Lyman  T.  Hornbuckle,  John  Hanshaw,  William  Holland,  Rob- 
ert Hullett,  Jesse  Honley,  Charles  Hoggs,  John  Hicks,  Harrison  Jones,  William 
Jolly,  Isaac  R.  Kidd,  Guy  S.  McMickle,  Asbury  Newell,  Jeremiah  O'Sullivan,  R.  B. 
Phelps,  James  Partridge,  Charles  Robertson,  Jacob  H.  Rhoads,  Jesse  Rhoads, 
David  Scott,  John  Surguy,  James  Shaw,  Henry  W.  Strong.  Milton  Whitehorn, 
William  Wise.  William  B.  Woods. 

Veterans,  Harmon  Abies,  H.  P.  Gamble,  Isaac  Graves,  James  C.  Gaston, 
Simeon  Hornbuckle,  Guy  S.  McMickle.  William  M.  Snow,  Benjamin  Stead, 
James  Shaw,  John  A.  Vornkohl,  William  Wise,  Joseph  Courtney,  Isaac  Z.  Davis, 
Peter  Dea,  A.  J.  Fort,  Robert  Hansby,  William  L.  Hornbuckle.  John  Hallet, 
Jesse  Lewis,  John  Murray,  Samuel  B.  Turner.  William  Tye.  Thomas  J.  White. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  179 

THIRTY-FIRST  INFANTRY  REGIMENT. 

Company  A. 
Private.  William  H.  McCoy. 

THIRTY-SECOND    INFANTRY. 

Companies  A  and  C  and  a  portion  of  I  were  recruited  in  Macoupin  county 
by  Colonel  John  Logan.  Henry  Davidson  was  captain  of  Company  A,  and  Thad- 
deus  Phillips  captain  of  Company  C,  while  Samuel  Cummings  from  this  county 
served  as  first  lieutenant.  This  regiment  was  mustered  into  service,  December 
31,  1861.  It  bore  a  distinguished  part  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh  and  lost  in  killed 
forty,  while  two  hundred  men  were  wounded.  It  was  engaged  in  the  advance 
on  Corinth  and  on  the  5th  of  October,  1862,  took  part  in  the  battle  at  Matamora. 
It  did  good  service  here  and  lost  seven  killed  and  five  wounded.  On  the  8th 
of  November  in  a  forced  march  southward  from  Lagrange  it  surprised  and  cap- 
tured over  one  hundred  rebel  cavalry  at  Lamar  and  routed  the  enemy.  After 
many  hard  marches,  part  of  the  time  being  on  short  rations,  in  March,  1863, 
they  moved  to  Memphis  and  remained  until  May  n,  when  they  moved  to 
Young's  Point.  On  the  isth  they  joined  the  division  ten  miles  below  Vicksburg; 
from  there  went  to  Grand  Gulf,  where  they  were  detained  a  few  days  as  garri- 
son; June  12  the  post  was  abandoned  and  the  regiments  joined  the  division  on 
the  lines  around  Vicksburg;  engaged  in  the  siege  until  June  27,  when  Colonel 
Logan  with  his  regiment,  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Ohio,  and  one  sec- 
tion of  artillery,  was  ordered  to  command  the  post  at  Warrenton,  which  was  the 
extreme  left  of  the  line.  It  rejoined  the  brigade  on  the  4th  of  July  and  on  the 
5th  marched  with  Sherman's  army  toward  Jackson,  a  very  trying  march.  After 
hard  service  and  skirmishing  and  the  capture  of  a  battery  of  nine  pieces  of  artil- 
lery, on  the  3d  of  January,  1864,  it  moved  to  Vicksburg,  where  it  was  mustered 
as  a  veteran  organization.  It  went  on  a  furlough  and  on  the  28th  reassembled 
at  Camp  Butler,  moving  thence  to  Bird's  Point,  Missouri.  June  12,  1864,  the 
siege  of  Kenesaw  Mountain  commenced  and  the  Seventeenth  Corps  occupied 
the  left  of  the  line  and  the  Thirty-second  Regiment  occupied  the  exposed  posi- 
tion on  the  advance.  July  2d,  4th  and  5th,  it  was  transferred  to  the  right  of  the 
line,  and  on  the  5th  when  the  Fourth  Division  assaulted  the  enemy,  the  Thirty- 
second  was  the  first  to  plant  its  colors  on  the  works.  July  i8th  the  regiment 
was  transferred  to  the  First  Brigade,  of  which  Colonel  Logan  took  command. 
While  guarding  supplies  at  Marietta  a  party  of  fifty  men  under  Lieutenant  Camp- 
bell, while  foraging,  after  a  spirited  resistance  were  captured,  only  nine  escap- 
ing. On  the  3d  the  enemy  attacked  the  line  near  Kenesaw  Mountain,  killing  and 
capturing  twelve  men.  The  regiment  remained  near  Marietta  until  the  march 
to  the  sea  began,  when,  on  the  I3th'of  November,  it  moved  from  that  place  and 
moved  from  Atlanta,  November  15,  1864.  In  the  siege  of  Savannah  Captain 
Lawson  and  four  men  were  wounded.  The  regiment  suffered  greatly  from  lack 
of  food.  It  remained  in  camp  at  Savannah,  Georgia,  until  December  5.  1865, 
when  it  embarked  at  Thunderbolt  for  Beaufort.  February  3d  the  division  waded 
the  Salkahatchie  river,  two  miles  wide  and  from  two  to  five  feet  deep  and  ice 
cold,  and  after  a  half  hour's  skirmishing  on  the  opposite  bank,  compelled  the 


180  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIX  COUNTY 

enemy  to  evacuate  their  strong  line  of  defense.  Colonel  Logan  was  absent  dur- 
ing these  two  campaigns  on  court  martial  duty  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  Cap- 
tain Rider,  afterward  lieutenant  colonel,  commanded  the  regiment.  It  took  part 
in  the  grand  review  at  Washington,  May  24,  1865.  It  then  moved  to  Parkers- 
burg,  Virginia,  thence  to  Louisville,  thence  westward  by  way  of  St.  Louis  and 
Fort  Leavenworth  to  Fort  Kearney,  Nebraska,  arriving  on  the  I3th  of  August. 
It  returned  to  Fort  Leavenworth  September  2d  and  on  the  i6th  was  mustered 
out  there  and  ordered  to  Camp  Butler  for  final  payment  and  discharge.  While 
in  service  it  traveled  11,000  miles  and  its  record  makes  glorious  a  page  of  the 
history  of  the  state. 

Colonel,  John  Logan;  major,  Henry  Davidson;  adjutant,  James  F.  Drish ; 
quartermaster,  Charles  A.  Morton;  chaplain,  Edward  McMillan. 

Non-Commissioned  staff — Quartermaster  sergeant,  Albert  Davidson;  princi- 
pal musicians,  Shuman  M.  Brown,  William  R.  Wheeler,  William  Strachan, 
Charles  Boring. 

Company  A. 

Captain,  John  Berry ;  first  lieutenants,  Joseph  S.  Rice,  William  A.  Burnett ; 
first  sergeant,  William  T.  Burnett ;  sergeants,  Nathan  R.  Gill,  Thomas  H.  Badgett, 
T.  J.  P.  Davidson;  corporals,  Joseph  E.  Gaylor,  Anthony  Gilmartin,  Andrew  M. 
Young,  Edwin  Shumway,  Samuel  J.  Delaplain,  Aaron  Adams,  William  W.  Lit- 
trell ;  musicians,  Levi  Berry,  William  R.  Whelan. 

Privates,  Raby  Alderson,  Charles  Alford,  William  H.  Alford,  William  H. 
Allen.  William  A.  Adcock,  James  P.  Barrow,  Downing  H.  Cave,  Philip  R.  Cot, 
William  H.  Crum,  John  W.  Crum,  George  W.  L.  Chiles,  Albert  Davidson,  John 
Davidson,  Thomas  J.  Doss,  David  H.  Frazier,  Francis  M.  Fife,  James  Y.  Cooch, 
Leslie  C.  Gardner,  David  Good,  Corydon  Gifford,  John  M.  Gibson.  William  j. 
Harris,  Milton  F.  Harris,  Samuel  B.  Hodges,  Silas  Hughes,  Joshua  W.  Hogan, 
P.  M.  Johnson,  F.  M.  Kirby,  Peter  Lanz,  James  M.  Lear,  George  W.  Lacock, 
William  H.  Lee,  Jefferson  Lumpkins,  Adam  McLaughlin,  Preston  L.  Mahan. 
Fernando  W.  Morse,  William  Moore,  William  F.  Murphy,  Charles  Y.  Padgett, 
John  R.  Palmer.  William  M.  Peek,  John  R.  Pickens,  Cyrus  S.  Prowty,  Edwin  A. 
Rice,  John  F.  Rice,  James  O.  Ross,  Constantine  C.  Russell,  Alfred  P.  Richards, 
Samuel  R.  Steidley,  Samuel  Simpson,  Isaac  N.  Smith,  Edward  D.  Scott,  Phillip 
Shaw,  Thomas  Smith,  Nathan  T.  Vanout,  William  A.  Tosh,  Charles  R.  Walters. 
Henry  Wilkins,  Thomas  Wolf,  James  A.  Young,  Nathan  M.  Young. 

Veterans,  James  P.  Barron,  Ambrose  R.  Courtney,  Phillip  R.  Cox,  Samuel  J. 
Delaplain,  Joseph  E.  Gaylor,  William  H.   Padgett. 

Recruits,  Ambrose  R.  Courtney,  William  S.  Clevenger,  Charles  Crouch,  John 
F.  Courtney,  Alexander  Davidson.  Albert  G.  Jones,  Gifford  G.  King.  David  S. 
King,  Isaac  Massey,  Hugh  Newell,  William  G.  Rice,  Caleb  Capps,  William  R. 
Samples. 

Company  B. 

Captain.  Benjamin  H.  Penn. 

Company  C. 

Captains.  Thaddeus  Phillips,  Abram  D.  Keller,  Edwin  C.  Lawson.  Hardin  T. 
Richardson ;  first  lieutenants,  William  C.  C.  Logan.  Thomas  W.  Johnson ;  second 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  181 

lieutenant,  Josiah  Borough;  first  sergeant,  Daniel  W.  Messick;  sergeants,  Abiel 
M.  Baker,  James  A.  Yanardale,  Robert  A.  Lowe,  William  Yoll;  corporals,  Isaac 
Hardcastle,  Samuel  Hawkins,  John  V.  Harris,  William  Thayer,  William  T. 
Brown,  Robert  Rusher,  Charles  Rodgers ;  musicians,  Cicero  Borough,  Headly 
Fenwick ;  wagoner,  John  Allen. 

Privates,  George  N.  Arnold,  James  Boulter,  John  Bishop,  Jeremiah  Bishop, 
James  Burch,  James  P.  Bell,  Alexander  Brown,  Isaac  Barlor,  Sparrow  Brown, 
George  W.  Brown,  Robert  Bates,  George  Cowell,  John  C.  Conover,  George  W. 
Duggi,  John  W.  Deck,  John  W.  Dewert.  James  Fury,  Ailing  Goodsell,  Lucien 
Goodsell,  Samuel  Gray,  James  Hendrix,  Charles  Harrington,  Andrew  Hollings- 
wcrth.  Adolphus  Hinson,  John  H.  Hall,  Charles  H.  Keller,  Charles  S.  King,  John 
Lowery,  Edwin  C.  Lawson,  William  T.  Lewis,  Patrick  Magan,  George  W.  Miller, 
James  Miller,  Robert  A.  Miller.  Hency  C.  Xail,  Alfred  J.  Osborn,  William  Per- 
viance,  Elijah  C.  Pulliam.  Benjamin  H.  Penn,  William  R.  Redman,  Hardin  T. 
Richardson.  John  M.  Rice,  Jesse  Sutton,  John  A.  Squires,  William  C.  Sinclair, 
Benjamin  F.  Stockton,  Abraham  Sclowalter,  Isaac  Stran,  Watson  Towse,  John 
W.  Taylor.  George  Thornton,  Alexander  Woods,  Frederick  Wilkins,  Silas  W. 
Webster.  Walker  Wiley,  Phillip  Zimmaker,  Jerrett  Tennis,  Jonathan  A.  Wicker- 
sham. 

Veterans,  Lewis  Anderson,  Abiel  M.  Baker,  John  W.  Bishop,  Fanwick  Y. 
Headly,  Thomas  W.  Johnson,  Charles  H.  Keller,  Alfred  A.  Rusher. 

Recruits,  Lewis  Anderson,  L.  M.  Brown,  Cicero  Borough,  John  M.  Baker, 
Abisha  Cramer,  Alexander  Davis,  Kayne  Eagan,  Moses  Freeman,  Ezra  Gunlin, 
William  Grey,  John  C.  Harville,  Thomas  Johnson,  Samuel  Jackson,  John  C. 
Loville.  Henry  T.  Moore,  Charles  J.  Neeley,  John  T.  Patterson,  John  W.  Phillips, 
Charles  K.  Taggart.  Samuel  Tilile,  William  W.  Worth,  Isaac  M.  Wiseman. 

Company  D. 

Second  lieutenant,  James  W.  Mitchell ;  first  sergeant,  Jacob  Shoemaker ;  cor- 
poral. John  W.  Goff.  • 

Privates,  Pinkney  M.  Cole,  Alfred  Converse,  William  L.  Duff,  John  H.  Davi- 
son,  William  F.  Fox,  Alexander  Henderson,  James  Jayne,  Noah  Patterson, 
Stephen  Rieves. 

Recruit,  James  W.  Cole. 

Company  H. 

Privates,  Louis  Fiesler,  John  W.  Griffith,  James  E.  Hannah,  William  Patton, 
John  A.  Sharp. 

Recruit.  John  Russell. 

Company  I. 

Captain,  Samuel  Cummings;  first  lieutenants,  Robert  P.  Drake,  Richard  J. 
Rusher;  sergeants,  Thomas  Cummings,  William  S.  Drew;  corporals,  R.  J.  Robi- 
nett,  Robert  Curry. 

Privates.  James  Barnett,  James  M.  Butler,  Robert  D.  Carter,  Benjamin  F. 
Comer,  Seth  Carpenter,  Greenup  Daers,  Thomas  Fair,  John  Hall,  Lewis  Kerley, 
John  Lofton,  Charles  Nail,  Henry  C.  Nail,  Richard  J.  Rusher,  Samuel  Stockton, 
Jesse  Wallace. 


182  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Company  K. 

Privates,  James  M.  Lair,  William  Lee,  William  T.  Moore,  Thomas  Wolf. 
Recruit,  Edward  M.  Brink. 

Unassigned  recruits,  Andrew  J.  Bates,  Wesley  Cummings,  Jonathan  M.  Rich, 
John  Roberts,  Walter  A.  Warren. 

THIRTY-THIRD   INFANTRY. 

Company  A. 

Cyrus  A.  Bailey,  William  T.  Biggarstoff,  David  P.  Langley. 
Veteran,  George  E.  Alderson. 
Recruit,  George  S.  Alderson. 

Company  D. 

Sergeant,  Michael  Simondson ;  corporal,  John  W.  Pepper. 

Privates,  Henry  Evarts,  Alpheus  Jourdan,  George  Lyman,  John  B.  Melvin, 
Charles  Perrings,  Robert  Travis,  Thomas  Warren,  Daniel  Webster,  Floyd 
Webster. 

Recruit,  James  A.  Chamberlain. 

Company  G. 
Hiram  H.  Mulligan. 

THIRTY-FOURTH     INFANTRY. 

Company  D. 

Sergeant,  Charles  Eckles ;  corporal,  Henry  D.  Wood. 

Privates,  John  Albars,  Josiah  J.  Deck,  Patrick  J.  Hall,  Frederick  F.  Kloster- 
hand,  Alfred  T.  Mead,  Albert  Slater,  John  B.  Classen,  Marmaduke  Eckles,  Clif- 
ford Eastwood,  Robert  C.  Gaston,  Lewis  Gleichman,  Ira  B.  Hutton,  James  N. 
Haire,  Charles  W.  Jackson,  Diedrick  Kruger,  George  Lamkin,  Charles  W.  Mor- 
gan, Sidney  L.  Morgan,  Wyckham  C.  Raynolds,  G.  H.  L.  Sartorius,  Samuel  Shaw, 
William  Shaw.  William  H.  Schock.  Emanuel  Schick,  Francis  J.  Tilton. 

FORTY-THIRD    INFANTRY. 

Company  K. 
Corporals,  James  S.  Clark,  John  Lowe,  John  W.  Strawn. 

FORTY-NINTH    INFANTRY. 

Company  E  of  this  regiment,  Colonel  Morrison  commanding,  was  the  only 
one  which  was  composed  of  soldiers  from  Macoupin.  John  G.  Berry,  of  Belle- 
ville, was  the  captain,  he  being  succeeded  by  Henry  W.  Kerr,  of  Carlinville. 
The  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  December  31,  1861 ;  February  3d, 
it  was  ordered  to  Cairo,  and  on  the  8th  moved  to  Fort  Henry.  It  fought  at 
Fort  Donaldson,  losing  fourteen  killed  and  thirty-seven  wounded ;  was  in  the 
two  days'  battle  of  Shiloh,  April  6  and  7,  losing  seventeen  killed  and  wounded ; 
after  good  service  in  the  siege  of  Corinth  moved,  August  21,  to  Helena,  Arkan- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  183 

sas,  to  join  Steele's  expedition  against  Little  Rock;  November  10,  participated 
in  the  capture  of  that  place;  January  15,  1864,  three  fourths  of  the  regiment 
reenlisted  and  were  mustered  as  veteran  volunteers;  January  27,  moved  to 
Vicksburg  and  accompanied  Sherman  in  the  Meridian  campaign  and  returned  to 
Vicksburg;  March  10  was  assigned  to  the  Red  River  expedition;  on  the  i4th 
participated  in  the  capture  of  Fort  De  Russet,  Louisiana;  April  9  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Pleasant  Hill.  After  returning  to  Memphis,  it  was  ordered  to 
Illinois  on  a  furlough,  June  24.  The  detachment  of  non-veterans  remained,  being 
commanded  by  Captain  John  A.  Logan,  participating  in  the  battle  of  Tupelo,  July 
14  and  15,  1864.  After  the  expiration  of  the  furlough  they  rendezvoused  at 
Centralia,  Illinois,  and  proceeded  by  way  of  Cairo  and  Memphis  to  Holly  Springs  ; 
August  12  participated  in  the  Oxford  expedition,  returning  to  Memphis,  August 
30;  September  30,  arrived  at  Jefferson  Barracks,  St.  Louis;  moved  to  Franklin 
and  drove  the  enemy  from  that  place ;  moved  with  the  army  in  pursuit  of  Price 
and  returned  November  18,  1864;  arrived  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  December  i; 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  Nashville,  December  15  and  16;  December  24  was 
ordered  to  Paducah,  Kentucky,  to  muster  out  non-veterans.  It  performed  gar- 
rison duty  until  mustered  out,  September  9,  1865,  at  Paducah  and  arrived  at 
Camp  Butler,  September  15,  1865,  for  final  payment  and  discharge.  This  was  a 
gallant  regiment  and  won  high  reputation. 

Company  E. 

Captain,  Henry  W.  Kerr ;  corporals,  William  G.  Davis,  V.  A.  Davis. 

Privates,  Francis  Aicardy,  John  Bolivans,  John  Easly,  John  Fireman,  Joseph 
Goodenough,  John  Glover,  William  R.  Glover,  Ellis  Herrin,  Isaac  Lamb,  George 
Melbourn,  Robert  G.  Mouseg,  George  Pollard,  Charles  Rosenthal,  J.  F.  Schultz, 
George  W.  Thomas,  John  Blevins. 

Recruits,  A.  W.  Crowder,  William  T.  Gooch,  Marshall  McWaine,  John  W. 
Rice,  Hardin  Stromatt,  Alexander  Welch. 

Company  F. 
Private,  Harrison  Hawkins. 

Company  G. 

Sergeant,  Alexander  Elkins. 

Privates,  H.  A.  Crouk,  Samuel  Elkins,  William  M.  Elkins,  James  McFurlow, 
William  Nossett,  James  H.  Robertson. 

Recruits,  George  M.  Clayborn,  Jesse  Davis,  John  Davis,  Hiram  M.  Fisher, 

FIFTIETH    INFANTRY. 

Company  G. 
Recruit,  William  C.  Boyd. 

Company  H. 
Private,  George  W.  Walls. 

Company  K. 
Private.  Alfred  B.  Hogan. 


184  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT. 

Company  I  was  recruited  by  Captain  Alfred  W.  Ellett,  of  Bunker  Hill,  who 
was  made  brigadier  general,  November  i,  1862.  This  regiment  of  Illinois  men 
was  first  accredited  to  Missouri,  Illinois'  quota  being  full,  and  was  known  as 
the  Ninth  Missouri  Infantry.  It  did  good  service  in  the  latter  state.  On  the 
I2th  of  February,  1862,  the  name  was  changed  to  the  Fifty-ninth  Illinois  In- 
fantry. It  participated  in  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge  and  after  inarching  and  skirm- 
ishing arrived  at  West  Plains,  April  28.  Captain  Ellett,  three  lieutenants  and 
fifty  men  were  ordered  to  report  for  duty  to  Colonel  Charles  Ellett's  ram  fleet. 
After  service  in  Mississippi,  Tennessee  and  Missouri,  under  General  Jefferson 
C.  Davis,  and  later,  General  Robert  B.  Mitchell,  on  the  3d  of  September  it  left 
Murfreesboro  and  began  the  westward  march  with  Buell,  arriving  at  Louisville, 
September  26.  On  the  ist  of  October  it  moved  in  pursuit  of  Bragg;  October  7 
engaged  the  enemy  at  Chaplin  Hills ;  on  the  8th  it  lost  heavily,  out  of  three  hun- 
dred and  sixty-one  men  going  into  action  there  being  one  hundred  and  thirteen 
killed  and  wounded.  On  the  loth  it  pursued  the  enemy  and  on  the  I4th  had  a 
skirmish  at  Lancaster ;  was  in  the  Stone  River  campaign  with  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland  and  in  the  Tullahoma  campaign  during  the  siege  of  Chattanooga, 
and  was  constantly  under  fire  of  the  enemy's  batteries;  November  23,  1863,  it 
started  on  the  Lookout  Mountain  campaign.  The  Third  Brigade,  of  which  the 
Fifty-ninth  was  a  part,  was  led  in  the  assault  on  the  Mission  Ridge  by  this  reg- 
iment. January  12,  1864,  it  was  mustered  out  as  a  veteran  organizaiton.  May  3d 
the  Atlanta  campaign  was  begun,  and  on  the  /th  it  supported  the  attack  upon 
Tunnel  Hill,  while  on  the  8th  the  attack  on  Rocky  Face  Ridge  began,  which 
lasted  until  the  I3th.  The  regiment  was  in  action  at  Resaca,  Adairsville,  Kings- 
ton, Dallas.  Acworth,  Pine  Top,  Kenesaw  Mountain  and  Smyrna  Campmeeting 
grounds.  From  July  12  until  August  25  it  was  under  fire  night  and  day  before 
Atlanta ;  it  fought  at  Lovejoy  Station,  and  after  skirmishing  and  doing  arduous 
service,  reached  Nashville,  December  i.  On  the  iSth  the  battle  of  Nashville 
took  place.  The  Fifty-ninth  was  in  the  first  line  of  the  assaulting  column  and 
planted  the  first  colors  on  the  captured  works.  It  lost  one-third  of  its  men  in 
killed  and  wounded,  this  being,  the  last  notable  battle  in  which  the  regiment 
participated.  After  being  on  duty  in  various  parts  of  the  south  until  December 
8,  1865,  at  New  Braunfels,  Texas,  it  was  mustered  out  and  ordered  to  Spring- 
Held.  Illinois,  for  final  payment  and  discharge. 

Company   I. 

Captains,  Alfred  W.  Ellett,  Charles  F.  Adams,  James  A.  Beach ;  first  sergeant, 
Alfred  B.  Blake;  sergeants,  William  Cleaver,  John  Duffee.  Gilbert  C.  Hamilton, 
Richard  R.  Ferdon ;  corporals,  John  T.  Hanlon,  John  Hallam,  Samuel  Fisherman. 
James  P.  Donna,  Reuben  W.  Smith,  George  W.  Bailey,  Adolph  Hulsenbech ; 
musician,  Henry  C.  Ferdon. 

Privates,  Charles  C.  Isaacs.  Jonathan  Miller.  Elijah  B.  Mitchell,  Elias  Rob- 
erts, William  Robertson,  James  L.  Smith,  Thomas  M.  Stockvvell,  James  H.  Sikes, 
William  Fieman,  George  D.  Walton. 


SOLDIERS'  MONUMENT,  OIUARl) 


LibHAHY 
0»    IH£ 
Sm  Of  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  185 

Recruits,  Edward  W.  Bartlett,  William  H.  Cline,  John  V.  Holland,  Albert  G. 
Huddleston,  Lorenzo  M.  Hill,  James  F.  Lock,  James  A.  Mitchell,  Alexander  M. 
Marshall,  William  McCoy,  John  P.  Sawyer,  Tobias  N.  Taft,  John  Varble,  Rich- 
ard Welch,  William  F.  Warren,  Daniel  W.  Young,  Robert  B.  Beach,  Edward  C. 
Ellett. 

SIXTY-FIRST  INFANTRY. 

Company  B. 

Recruit,  William  Wood. 

Company  E. 

Charles  B.  Atkins,  William  D.  Albion,  Joseph   P.  Caruth. 

Company  K. 
Recruits,  Peter  C.  Barlow,  Price  M.  Jones,  George  F.  Rutherford. 

SIXTY-SECOND    INFANTRY. 

Company  B. 
Recruit,  Richard  K.  Ragan. 

SIXTY-THIRD   INFANTRY. 

Company  H. 
Recruit,  Nathan  M.  Young. 

SEVENTY-NINTH     INFANTRY. 

Company  D. 
First  lieutenant,  Isaac  P.  Hartsock. 

NINETY-FIRST  INFANTRY. 

Company  I. 
Recruit,  John  F.  Pearce. 

Company  K. 

Sergeant,  James  W.  Oats. 
Privates,  George  Deal,  John  W.  Maxfield. 
Recruits,  William  Deal,  William  H.  Robinson. 

NINETY-SEVENTH    INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  recruited  principally  in  the  counties  of  Madison,  Cumber- 
land, Fayette,  Jasper,  Jersey,  Calhoun  and  Macoupin.  It  was  organized  at  Camp 
Butler,  September  8,  1862,  by  Colonel  Rutherford  and  was  mustered  out  Septem- 
ber 1 6.  Company  A  was  from  Macoupin  county  and  was  raised  by  L.  D.  Martin, 
W.  H.  Willard  and  P.  H.  Pentzer,  at  Gillespie,  Bunker  Hill,  Staunton  and 
vicinity.  L.  D.  Martin  was  made  lieutenant  colonel,  William  H.  Willard  was 


186  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

made  captain  of  Company  A  and  P.  H.  Pentzer  was  made  sergeant  major  of 
the  regiment.  Richard  Wood  was  made  first  lieutenant  and  Alexander  Atchison 
second  lieutenant.  The  latter  was  killed  at  Vicksburg,  May  22,  1863.  In  the 
spring  of  that  year  Captain  Willard  resigned  and  Lieutenant  Wood  became  cap- 
tain. W.  E.  Best,  who  was  sergeant  major  was  promoted  to  the  captaincy  of 
Company  C.  Company  A  made  an  enviable  record  for  bravery  and  heroism. 
Captain  Pentzer  of  Company  C  had  the  color  company  during  three  years.  To 
this  company  belongs  the  honor  of  having  surprised  and  captured  General  F.  M. 
Cockrell,  later  United  States  senator  from  Missouri. 

October  3,  1862,  the  regiment  was  moved  from  Camp  Butler  to  Cincinnati 
and  assigned  to  A.  J.  Smith's  Division  at  Louisville.  On  the  i7th  it  left  Louis- 
ville for  Memphis  and  went  into  camp;  left  Memphis,  December  20  and  landed 
near  Walnut  Hill,  on  the  Yazoo,  being  on  the  extreme  right  during  the  opera- 
tions on  Vicksburg.  When  the  attack  was  abandoned  January  i,  1863,  it  moved 
to  Arkansas  Post  and  took  part  in  the  battle  at  that  place;  May  ist  was  engaged 
at  Port  Gibson  and  on  the  loth  fought  at  Champion  Hills ;  May  19  arrived  in 
the  rear  of  Vicksburg,  taking  part  in  the  hardships  and  dangers  of  that  memorable 
siege  until  July  4,  when  the  stronghold  fell.  It  took  part  in  Sherman's  expe- 
dition to  Jackson  and  returned  to  Vicksburg,  where  it  remained  until  August; 
it  embarked  on  the  25th  for  New  Orleans  and  went  into  camp  at  Carrollton, 
Louisiana.  It  was  mustered  out  of  service  July  29,  1865,  at  Galveston,  Texas, 
arriving  at  Camp  Butler,  August  13,  1865,  where  it  received  final  payment  and 
discharge. 

First  assistant  surgeon,  Constantine  M.  Smith ;  non-commissioned  staff-ser- 
geant majors,  Patrick  H.  Pentzer,  William  E.  Best,  William  Mathie,  Hugh  R. 
Johnston ;  commissary  sergeant,  R,  R.  M.  McLeary. 

Company  A. 

Captains,  William  H.  Willard,  Richard  H.  Wood,  William  E.  Best ;  first  lieu- 
tenants, Alexander  C.  Atchison,  William  H.  Hamilton;  second  lieutenant,  Will- 
iam R.  Eddington ;  first  sergeant,  George  W.  Trask ;  sergeants,  William  H.  Ham- 
ilton, Leander  S.  Bird,  William  R.  Eddington ;  corporals,  Robert  Kelly,  William 
L.  DeWitt,  Samuel  P.  Bird,  Hugh  R.  Johnson,  Joseph  N.  Brown,  Thomas  M. 
Pentzer,  Benjamin  R.  McLeary,  George  Brebner;  wagoner,  Robert  Ewing. 

Privates,  George  A.  Apple,  A.  H.  Barnes,  Almond  H.  Barnes,  Joseph  H. 
Barnes,  Weird  Baur,  George  W.  Barringer,  William  H.  Brown,  William  E.  Best, 
John  W.  Brown,  Robert  Brown,  Charles  T.  Barster,  Merritt  L.  Cox,  George  W. 
Collison,  Jeremiah  Dwyer,  David  Dickey,  Elliott  Giffin,  John  Gilles.  Henry 
Golicke,  Andrew  J.  Gray,  Jesse  Hoffman.  Charles  W.  Johnson,  Alonzo  James, 
George  W.  Lee,  Augustus  Lisbelt,  Orlena  Lukin,  John  Lilly,  John  B.  McPherson, 
Johnson  McGillroy,  Willis  McGillwen,  William  H.  Medlin,  William  Melcher, 
William  W.  McKee,  Robert  Miller,  Jeremiah  Naughton,  Martin  V.  B.  Opdyke, 
John  Oilman,  John  W.  Paul,  Thomas  Pope,  James  Pope,  James  Pore,  S.  M. 
Partridge,  William  Patterson,  Newton  Porter,  Robert  E.  Patrick,  James  Robin- 
son, William  J.  Stark,  Stephen  Smith,  James  T.  Squires,  Ernest  Shrive,  Henry 
Spette,  Robert  E.  Smith,  Benjamin  F.  Smith,  Thomas  Swain,  Perry  Shouts,  J. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  187 

R.   Stennett,  William  F.   Savage,  Joel  Wheeler,   Peter  'Wegand,  Lewis   D.  T. 
Wood,  Henry  Wise,  Robert  H.  Wallace,  Samuel  Watson,  Mathias  Wendlin. 

Recruits,  John  Bridges,  Reuben  S.  Bates,  Elias  L.  Ball,  John  A.  Chambers, 
William  W.  Clayton,  Charles  A.  Carroll,  James  M.  Dunn,  H.  J.  Duncan,  Jacob 
P.  David,  Andrew  P.  Dyer,  Sebastian  Elter,  Boyless  Forrest,  William  J.  Holland, 
Martin  Hollingsworth,  Callard  P.  Hawkins,  Robert  H.  Jones,  John  Jeff,  James 
H.  Jones,  William  Ketchum,  David  Morris,  William  Mathie,  David  Powers, 
George  Powers,  George  D.  Plumhaff,  Charles  A.  Palmiter,  William  H.  Powers, 
B.  F.  Sawyer,  John  Shrier,  Asa  Swain,  William  D.  Wood,  Jesse  Webb. 

N 

Company  C. 
Captain,  Patrick  H.  Pentzer. 

Company  E. 
Recruit,  George  W.  Leach. 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FOURTEENTH    INFANTRY. 

Company  B. 
Private,  William  Griffith. 

Company   E. 
Private,  Granderson  Henderson. 

ONE   HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-SECOND    INFANTRY. 

This  infantry  was  commanded  by  General  John  I.  Rinaker.  All  of  this 
regiment  with  the  exception  of  Company  C  was  organized  at  Camp  Palmer, 
Carlinville,  August,  1862,  where  it  was  drilled  for  a  month  and  mustered 
in  September  4.  About  the  6th  of  October,  1862,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to 
report  to  General  Dodge  at  Columbus,  Kentucky.  It  went  on  duty  at  Tren- 
ton, Tennessee,  where  Colonel  Rinaker  was  placed  in  command  of  the  post. 
November  12,  the  right  wing  of  the  regiment — Companies  A,  D  and  F — was 
ordered  to  Humboldt,  Tennessee,  where,  with  a  part  of  the  Fifty-fourth  Illi- 
nois and  Seventh  Wisconsin  Battery,  it  constituted  the  force  on  duty  at  that 
place  under  command  of  Colonel  Rinaker.  December  16,  1862,  a  large  force 
of  mounted  infantry  under  command  of  the  enterprising  and  daring  rebel, 
General  Forrest,  had  crossed  the  Tennessee  river  near  Clifton  for  the  purpose 
of  tearing  up  the  railroad  and  destroying  the  bridges  between  Jackson,  Ten- 
nessee, and  Columbus,  Kentucky,  while  a  cavalry  force  under  the  rebel  general, 
Van  Dorn,  was  moving  from  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee,  to  attack  and  destroy 
the  Mississippi  Central  Railroad  from  near  Jackson,  Tennessee,  to  Holly  Springs, 
Mississippi.  The  design  of  these  operations  was  to  frustrate  and  prevent  the 
movement  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  under  General  Grant,  then  moving 
by  the  inland  route  to  capture  Vicksburg.  General  Grant's  army  depended  for 
its  supplies  upon  the  line  of  railroad  between  Columbus,  Kentucky,  via  Jackson, 
Tennessee,  and  Holly  Springs,  Mississippi,  and  thence  south  as  he  advanced. 
There  were  at  all  the  stations  along  the  line  of  road  small  bodies  of  troops, 


188  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

most  of  them  infantry.  These  detachments  at  any  of  the  points  were  not  of 
sufficient  strength  to  repel  an  attack.  General  Sullivan  commanded  the  dis- 
trict of  Jackson,  Tennessee,  including  the  troops  from  the  Kentucky  line  to- 
ward Columbus  to  Bolivar,  Tennessee,  and  as  Jackson  was  at  the  junction  of 
the  Memphis,  Charleston  and  Mississippi  Central  Railroad  Company's  said 
line,  on  which  supplies  must  move,  and  as  there  was  a  large  accumulation  of 
military  stores  at  Jackson  and  as  Forrest  had  defeated  and  captured  the  cav- 
alry force  belonging  to  that  district  at  Lexington,  on  the  i6th  of  December, 
General  Sullivan  ordered  all  the  effective  troops  on  the  line  to  move  at  once 
to  Jackson.  On  the  I7th  Colonel  Rinaker,  therefore  moved  his  command,  con- 
sisting of  the  right  wing  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-second  Illinois, 
four  companies  of  Fifty-fourth  Illinois,  and  half  of  the  Seventh  Wisconsin 
Battery,  from  Humboldt  to  Jackson,  Tennessee,  where  the  rest  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-second  arrived  the  same  day.  On  the  night  of  Decem- 
ber 2",  with  a  part  of  the  Thirty-ninth  Iowa,  Fiftieth  Indiana  and  one-half  of 
the  Seventh  Wisconsin  Battery,  all  under  Colonel  Dunham,  were  ordered  to 
move  out  from  Trenton  to  intercept  Forrest's  command  on  its  return  from  the 
vicinity  of  Columbus,  Kentucky,  to  the  Tennessee  river.  After  a  forced  march 
they  reached  Huntingdon,  Tennessee,  on  the  night  of  December  29.  The  next 
day  additional  troops  arrived  and  General  Sullivan  assumed  command.  Nine 
companies  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-second,  with  the  rest  of  Colonel 
Dunham's  command  took  the  advance  to  intercept  Forrest's  command,  which 
was  moving  around  to  the  south  and  east  of  Huntingdon,  seeking  to  avoid 
righting  and  to  recross  the  Tennessee  river.  Two  days  later,  December  31,  the 
battle  of  Parker's  Cross  Roads  took  place.  The  loss  to  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-second  was  one  officer  and  twenty-two  men  killed,  two  officers  and 
fifty- four  men  wounded.  At  this  battle  Colonel  Rinaker  was  severely  wounded. 
Here  they  captured  seven  pieces  of  artillery  and  five  hundred  prisoners.  Major 
James  F.  Chapman,  Captain  Balfour  Cowen  and  Lieutenant  W.  W.  Freeman, 
quartermaster  of  the  regiment,  and  sixty  enlisted  men  sick  in  the  hospital  at 
Trenton,  were  captured  by  the  enemy  under  General  Forrest.  It  moved  on 
the  1 7th  of  February,  1863,  to  Corinth;  on  the  25th  was  engaged  at  Town 
Creek,  thence  to  Saulsbury  in  June ;  thence  to  luka  in  October,  Colonel  Rin- 
aker commanding  the  post  at  each  place ;  thence  it  moved  to  Eastport,  thence 
to  Padticah  and  on  the  igth  of  January,  1864,  to  Cairo.  Companies  E,  H, 
and  K  were  engaged  in  defending  Paducah  against  Forrest's  attack,  on  the  24th 
of  March  repelling  three  attacks  on  Fort  Anderson.  The  regiment  moved  to 
Memphis  and  La  Grange  and  was  assigned  to  the  First  Brigade.  Third  Divi- 
sion, Sixteenth  Corps,  commanded  by  A.  J.  Smith.  In  the  battle  of  Tupelo,  on 
the  1 4th  of  July,  the  regiment  lost  Captain  Josiah  Burroughs  and  nine  men 
killed  and  thirty-three  wounded.  It  was  engaged  in  the  campaign  in  Missouri 
after  Price;  left  St.  Louis  for  Nashville  and  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Nash- 
ville, December  15  and  16,  capturing  four  pieces  of  artillery  and  a  battle  flag 
by  the  skirmish  line,  commanded  by  Major  Chapman;  February  18,  1865,  em- 
barked for  New  Orleans ;  thence  to  Dauphin  Island,  Alabama ;  on  the  23d 
moved  with  the  fleet  up  Fish  river  to  Dorley's  Landing,  and  thence  to  Span- 
ish Fort.  Colonel  Rinaker  was  in  command  of  the  First  Brigade;  was  en 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  189 

gaged  in  the  charge  of  the  gth  on  Fort  Blakely,  losing  twenty  killed  and 
wounded.  The  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  service  July  15  and  received 
final  payment  and  discharge  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  August  4,  1865.  This 
was  one  of  the  best  of  the  Illinois  regiments  and  its  colonel  was  breveted 
brigadier  for  meritorious  service. 

Colonel,  John  I.  Rinaker,  promoted  brevet  brigadier  general,  March  13, 
1865;  lieutenant  colonel,  James  F.  Drish;  major,  James  E.  Chapman;  quar- 
termaster, William  W.  Freeman ;  surgeons  marines,  W.  Seaman,  William  A. 
Knox ;  first  assistant  surgeon,  John  P.  Mathews ;  chaplain,  John  H.  Austin ; 
non-commissioned  staff,  sergeant  majors,  John  N.  McMillan,  James  W.  Gard- 
ner ;  quartermaster  sergeants,  Hugh  Colton,  John  H.  Cherry,  John  Craggs ; 
commissary  sergeant,  John  C.  Miller ;  hospital  steward,  Daniel  Wise ;  principal 
musicians,  George  Lee,  James  P.  Lair,  Martin  Woods,  David  Coon. 

Company  A. 

Captain,  William  B.  Dugger;  first  lieutenants,  Thomas  G.  Lofton,  James 
M.  Valentine,  Arthur  Comer;  second  lieutenants,  David  B.  Haldennau,  Bailey 
O.  Bowden ;  sergeants,  Milford  E.  Davenport,  Mark  Crowder,  Luther  Crowder, 
Arthur  Comer;  corporals,  Benwin  Wedell,  Henry  Binds,  Richard  T.  Phillips, 
George  T.  Jones,  Charles  S.  Patchin,  Wilson  Boring,  Job  O.  Wickersham, 
Jesse  B.  Ash;  musicians,  Jesse  Undercofler,  E.  P.  Penn ;  wagoner,  George  W. 
Morris. 

Privates,  Henry  C.  Ashbaugh,  Charles  D.  Ashbaugh,  John  Q.  Adams,  Will- 
iam M.  Anderson,  Francis  M.  Byrum,  Charles  F.  Barrack,  James  M.  Bottom, 
Robert  L.  Berry,  George  N.  Burington,  Samuel  L.  Berry,  John  C.  Baugh, 
Bailey  O.  Bowden,  Harman  Burdorff,  Gideon  B.  Brown,  Aaron  Challicombe, 
Frederick  Challicombe,  Joseph  S.  Crossgrove,  Adolphus  Campbell,  Dennis  Camp- 
bell, August  Chapino,  John  M.  Chapman,  Samuel  H.  Chapman,  Steven  B. 
Cole,  Henry  Deisel,  Alexander  M.  Davis,  John  W.  Davis,  George  Davidson, 
Anthony  Dallas,  Francis  M.  Etter,  John  S.  Enos,  Patrick  Fitzgerald,  Eli  R. 
Friend,  Chris  Fricke,  Frank  Fricke,  William  H.  Gephart,  John  R.  Gowins, 
James  H.  Gulick,  August  Hake,  Joseph  B.  Hill,  Virgil  L.  Herin,  Newton  Har- 
lor,  Joseph  G.  Henry,  Joseph  G.  Hitchings,  Andrew  Jackson,  William  Johnson, 
James  M.  Joy,  August  Klannberg,  Lewis  Kasseskie,  Daniel  W.  H.  Killion,  Al- 
chaner  Lowry,  Truston  P.  H.  Loveless,  George  Lee,  Jr.,  Dennis  H.  Murphy, 
Francis  M.  Manuel,  James  D.  McReynolds,  John  C.  Miller,  Phillip  Moss,  John 
M.  McMillan,  Hiram  Navity,  William  H.  Otwell,  E.  L.  Owen,  Amos  Pickem, 
John  W.  Piper,  John  Rohr,  William  Robinson. 

Recruits,  Anderson  Bounds,  George  W.  Brown,  Oscar  A.  De  Leun,  Oliver 
W.  McGinnis,  Henry  Opperman. 

Company  B. 

Captain,  Manoah  Bostick;  first  lieutenant,  John  Harding;  second  lieutenant, 
Eli  H.  Davis,  John  I.  Fletcher;  first  sergeant,  Thomas  F.  Stevens;  sergeants, 
Levi  B.  Smith,  John  White,  John  Fletcher,  John  F.  Woodmansee;  corporals, 


190  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

James  H.  Stone,  Andrew  J.  Calahan,  William  Hettick,  William  T.  Richmond, 
John  Mize;  musician,  Charles  Erhart;  wagoner,  James  W.  Duncan. 

Privates,  Lewis  W.  Atteberry,  Charles  E.  Atteberry,  Hapson  Arnold,  John 
W.  Butler,  John  Baker,  Owen  Butler,  Perry  A.  Baty,  John  Bacon,  Benjamin 
F.  Bivin,  John  Croford,  John  Charleston,  S.  B.  Croford,  John  H.  Calahan, 
Joseph  L.  Crum,  William  Clark,  William  H.  Dugger.  James  W.  Drake,  John 
Decker,  George  W.  Edwards,  George  Ebert,  Henry  L.  Evans,  Newton  Farris, 
Arthur  C.  Foster,  James  W.  Greer,  Henry  C.  Greer,  James  W.  Gardiner,  John 
F.  Gregory,  Lewis  R.  Holly,  Benjamin  F.  Hedges,  John  Hawks,  Lysander  L. 
Hungerford,  Major  Jones,  James  T.  Johnson,  Robert  Lynch,  John  Lynch, 
William  H.  Madison,  James  B.  Morris,  Calvin  Neighbours,  William  M.  Owens. 
Saunders  P.  Perry,  John  D.  Pulliam,  David  W.  Pinkerton,  William  Ridgway, 
William  G.  Roberts,  Evan  F.  Richmond,  F.  W.  Richardson,  Stephen  Rice.  John 
W.  Scott,  John  Schermer,  James  Scott,  Franklin  Siebert,  Ezekiel  Sharp,  Nim- 
rod  Sharp,  Robert  S.  Shipley,  Charles  Shumway,  John  W.  Schaning,  Wrillis 
H.  Thompson,  Noah  M.  Weaver. 

Recruits,  Ira  E.  Butler,  Thomas  C.  Butler,  Thomas  J.  Bristow.  John  W. 
Evans,  Josiah  Fishback,  John  C.  Miller,  Russell  J.  Stoddard,  A.  W.  Smith, 
William  A.  Smith,  Erastus  Thompson,  Leonard  J.  Thompson,  Maton  B.  Thomp- 
son, Robert  J.  Wells,  George  W.  Wright. 

Company  C. 
Private,  Jesse  Cockrell. 

Company  D. 

Captain,  Lewis  P.  Peebles ;  first  lieutenants,  James  N.  Halt,  Henry  C. 
Gooding;  second  lieutenant,  John  F.  Roach;  first  sergeant,  John  F.  Roach; 
sergeants,  John  C.  Peebles,  Thomas  P.  Oliver,  Edward  G.  Duckels,  Samuel 
Creamer;  corporals,  Joseph  C.  Hall,  William  S.  Harlan,  William  H.  H.  Ib- 
betson,  John  Leech,  James  L.  Murphy,  Theodore  L.  Leadbrook,  Lucius  B. 
Corbin,  John  T.  Johnson;  musician,  Oscar  Beck. 

Privates,  Hobert  M.  Andrews,  Robert  F.  Andrews,  John  Ashton.  David 
Atteberry,  John  H.  Barker,  M.  Spencer  Brown,  J.  McKendree  Brown,  Joseph 
B.  Bell,  David  Blackwell,  Joseph  M:  Cloud,  Fitzgerald  Coleman,  John  Craggs, 
Franklin  Chapman,  Edmund  Chapman,  John  F.  Coonrocl,  Coren  A.  J.  Cummings, 
John  R.  Cundall,  John  W.  Crayse,  Thornton  Cummings.  Joseph  F.  Cantrell, 
Albert  Dowden,  Eugene  W.  Delaplain,  Jerome  W.  Delaplain,  William  M.  De- 
laney,  F.  W.  Eastwood,  James  M.  Graham,  John  F.  Hagler,  Alfred  Holmes, 
Isaac  W.  Harlan,  Isaac  N.  Johnson,  Alexander  Jemison,  Robert  Kell.  Archi- 
bald D.  Kincaid,  Timothy  Loveland,  George  W.  Lee,  Jesse  Litton,  Aaron  Lan- 
ning,  William  R.  McGahey,  George  W.  McGahey,  Henry  F.  McNeil,  A.  Mof- 
fatt,  Sebastian  C.  Moore,  Martin  V.  Nivans,  William  H.  Peters,  George  W. 
Peebles,  Winfield  S.  Peebles,  Francis  F.  Patterson,  Henry  L.  Paddock,  John 
Pugh,  Ambrose  Robings,  William  Stratton,  George  Sheperson.  William  Saw- 
tell,  James  B.  Smith,  Jacob  Sell,  William  Sawyer,  John  W.  Thomas.  Austin 
S.  Thomas,  Isaac  Vanaman,  James  H.  Williams,  William  Winson,  William  A. 
Young. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  191 

Recruits.  James  Ashton,  Francis  Dubreal,  James  A.  Huston,  William  B. 
Hood,  John  A.  Oliver,  Perly  A.  Peebles,  James  Sprowel. 

Company  E. 

Captains,  Baxter  Haynes,  Abraham  C.  Hulse;  first  lieutenants,  Benjamin 
V.  Carey,  Thornton  G.  Capps;  second  lieutenant,  Dennis  Springer;  first  ser- 
geant, Thornton  G.  Capps ;  sergeants,  James  Burlison,  John  M.  Taylor,  John  A. 
Lee,  Jacob  C.  Wood ;  corporals,  Enoch  S.  Richards,  John  B.  Clevenger,  William 
B.  Moore,  John  Swift,  Daniel  Chapman,  John  W.  Young,  Jonathan  L.  Jennings ; 
Musicians,  James  P.  Lair,  John  W.  Williams. 

Privates,  William  J.  Ashlock,  Caleb  Adcock,  Laban  C.  Arnold,  David  M. 
Angelo,  Joshua  M.  Baldwin,  James  W.  Baldwin,  Jeremiah  L.  Baldwin,  Le 
Roy  Brigendine,  Samuel  Bridges,  Joseph  M.  Brigendine,  Joseph  Crawford,  Jesse 
H.  Crawford,  John  D.  Crawford,  Isaac  X.  Clevenger,  Joshua  B.  Clevenger,  M.  B. 
Clevenger,  Samuel  Covey,  William  C.  Carr,  Lytle  B.  Chowning,  Jesse  M.  Cheney, 
James  T.  Courtney,  John  W.  Crum,  Thomas  H.  L.  Evans,  A.  C.  England,  John 
England,  Robert  Edwards,  William  Edwards,  J.  C.  Grimmett,  Andrew  J.  Hogan, 
John  T.  Horton,  Layborn  Hunt,  Robert  T.  Hunt,  Jefferson  G.  Hunt,  George 
W.  Harford,  James  M.  Hayes,  William  H.  Hewitt,  'Emanuel  M.  Kimball, 
Ezekiel  Knight,  James  M.  Laird,  Samuel  Laird,  William  B.  Lloyd,  John  W. 
Laycock,  James  Murray,  Andrew  J.  Myers,  William  M.  McLaughlin,  James  B. 
McGinnis,  Samuel  M.  Piper,  Francis  Phillips,  William  Price,  Lewis  Redman, 
George  W.  Rice,  Edmond  Richards,  Elijah  G.  Steeley,  Dennis  Springer,  James 
W.  Steeley,  William  T.  Swift,  Jesse  Stennitt,  William  J.  Stennitt,  William  W. 
Tosh,  William  H.  Thompson,  William  J.  Vance,  Isaac  N.  Vance. 

Recruits,  James  J.  Adcock,  J.  C.  Clevenger,  Robert  Orr.  John  R.  Ray.  John 
W.  Richards,  Stacey  Thomas,  Robert  B.  Walker. 

Company  F. 

Captain,  James  S.  Chiles ;  second  lieutenants,  Duncan  C.  Mclver,  Peter  Mur- 
phy; first  sergeant,  James  Sharp;  sergeants,  John  D.  Murphy,  David  Whittico, 
William  H.  Terry ;  corporals,  Reuben  R.  Fletcher,  George  W.  Deeds,  John 
Abies,  William  T.  Philpot,  John  Coulter,  William  F.  Raymond,  Charles  T. 
Holman,  James  Anderson ;  musician,  Lafayette  T.  Hall ;  wagoner,  William  C. 
Taylor. 

Privates,  Jacob  B.  Ashlock,  William  J.  Bridge,  Hiram  O.  Bridges,  Charles 
B.  Blake,  Isaac  Brown,  Richard  S.  Burton,  John  L.  Borrow,  William  Chad- 
wick,  Henry  Draper,  Joseph  Edwards,  Richard  Fentress,  Ruffin  D.  Fletcher, 
Wiley  Fanley,  William  Hornbuckle,  Gabriel  Jones,  Pendleton  J.  Miller,  Will- 
iam Murphy,  Duncan  C.  Mclver,  Francis  M.  Neal,  Martin  Melin,  Evan  Odle, 
Lewis  Rhoads.  Charles  Rogers,  Richard  B.  Reamer,  William  A.  Sherman, 
Francis  M.  Sheperd,  John  H.  Sherman,  Benjamin  H.  Tolbert,  Luther  B.  Tun- 
nel, August  Wickerman,  Hiram  J.  Withrow,  Samuel  Young. 

Company  G. 

Captain,  Balfour  Cowen ;  first  lieutenants,  William  H.  Cox,  John  A.  Shaw ; 
second  lieutenants,  Rufus  W.  Loud,  Augustus  C.  Brown;  first  sergeants,  George 


192  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

W.  Cox,  Peter  M.  Boyer,  Joel  E.  Martin ;  corporals,  William  W.  Sewell,  Al- 
bert W.  Jackson,  Charles  C.  Cruser,  George  R.  Brannock,  Daniel  Wise,  James 
C.  Cox,  John  P.  Ward,  Ferdinand  Fensky;  musician,  Melvin  A.  Brown;  wag- 
oner, James  S.  Daniels. 

Privates,  Henry  Austin,  Simeon  Bird,  Thomas  Ball,  John  Brown,  John  E. 
Beatty,  Henry  Brothers,  Chester  Cogswell,  L.  J.  Cox,  Thomas  C.  Carrico, 
Henry  A.  Collier,  John  W.  Clark,  Firman  J.  Compton,  Guy  M.  Chedester,  Charles 
H.  Drake,  Benjamin  Evans,  Wharton  English,  James  R.  Fueman,  Edward 
Fortune,  Silas  R.  Green,  Samuel  J.  Hays,  George  H.  Hill,  Herman  Keil, 
Adolph  N.  Leoben,  Edward  Morhouse,  William  McConnell,  William  McCune, 
Andrew  Menard,  Joseph  M.  Melvin,  Julius  Mirus,  Samuel  J.  Newman,  Elisha 
Nossinger,  William  Floppier,  Herman  Quass,  Daniel  C.  Routzhan,  Adam  Ruth, 
James  W.  Renfo,  William  L.  Richardson,  Charles  R.  Sperry,  William  M. 
Stevenson.  John  H.  Taylor,  Aaron  Vandeventer,  Elijah  T.  Wright,  Charles  J. 
Wright,  Henry  M.  Wilcox,  James  H.  Walters,  Horace  H.  Weston. 

Recruits,  Alfred  N.  Andrews,  John  W.  Davidson,  Joseph  H.  Redman. 

Company  H. 

Captain,  Benjamin  Leigh;  first  lieutenant,  James  C.  McKnight;  second  lieu- 
tenants, Pleasant  L.  Bristow,  Sargent  McKnight;  sergeants,  William  H.  Shook, 
Julius  T.  Bridges,  John  H.  Cherry,  Plumer  Magoon;  corporals,  Hezekiah  S. 
Webb,  J.  W.  Langley,  James  M.  Lynch,  J.  L.  Ryan,  A.  B.  Canby,  Nathan  Francis, 
Joseph  D.  Grunwell,  Albert  W.  Peebles ;  musicians,  Martin  Wood,  John  W. 
Brooks;  wagoner,  John  Hartford. 

Privates,  James  E.  Atteberry,  William  Abner,  James  H.  Brown,  John  L. 
Bradley,  Henry  C.  Bradley,  Jesse  T.  Bryant,  Julius  Balkin,  Jeremiah  Butcher, 
John  Brown,  Richard  M.  Crump,  Thomas  Carrington,  David  Coon,  Nathan  H. 
Coop,  Randolph  W.  Callis,  Thomas  B.  Crouch,  Mathias  Crum,  John  T.  Childs, 
William  Cox,  George  W.  Dudderar,  David  A.  Foster,  Michael  Flannagan,  Will- 
iam W.  Holt,  Lorenzo  B.  Harlan,  John  S.  Irvin,  James  Jones,  James  B.  Johnson, 
Gideon  A.  Jennings,  William  Jennings,  William  H.  Lynch,  Joseph  Lewis,  Thomas 
A.  Landrith,  Jesse  W.  Lee,  Joseph  E.  McPherson,  Spencer  McKinney,  Johannes 
Muller.  John  Odle,  James  Odle,  William  H.  Owens,  John  W.  Peebles,  Samuel  W. 
Peter,  James  Pinkard,  Joseph  H.  Rouch,  James  C.  Rutherford,  William  M.  Rid- 
dle, William  Ridgway,  Albert  W.  Shook,  Hiram  Sherrill,  William  B.  Smith, 
Andrew  J.  Shores,  Benjamin  Scott,  Jesse  H.  Smith,  William  Seaton,  Isaac  A. 
Taylor,  Thomas  W.  Thacker,  Erastus  Thompson,  Abner  Van  Winkle,  John  A. 
Walden,  James  J.  Walden,  John  W.  Webb,  Robert  Woods,  Thomas  J.  Wilkerson. 

Recruits,  Isaac  V.  M.  Bristow,  Samuel  R.  Bingham,  Isaac  Butterfield,  Emery 
W.  Lynch,  William  M.  Wilson. 

Company  I. 

Captains,  Andrew  F.  Duncan,  Stephen  T.  Sawyer;  first  lieutenant,  Augustus 
M.  Sparks;  first  sergeant,  Levi  Klock;  sergeants,  George  W.  Paisley,  Thomas 
Ferguson,  Elijah  Lane,  Edward  G.  Handly;  corporals.  John  Percin,  Abner  H. 
Sawyer,  Joseph  D.  Chapman,  Hardy  Sparks.  Allen  Y.  Duncan,  Samuel  A.  Kin- 


COAL  MIXES  AXD  WASHERS  AT  GILLESPIK 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  193 

der,  William  Southard,  Cyrus  Tiffin;  musicians,  James  Sparks,  Frederick  Wag- 
oner; wagoner,  William  C.  Walker. 

Privates,  Francis  C.  Burg,  James  W.  Bess,  Daniel  Boyd,  George  W.  Bar- 
rington,  James  M.  Caulk,  Virgil  T.  Cox,  Jerrett  Cavender,  Thomas  W.  Duncan, 
S.  A.  Duncan,  George  Dix,  Alanson  W.  Edwards,  James  Ferris,  Robert  Forge, 
Thomas  W.  Hampton,  John  A.  Howerton,  Clifton  Howerton,  Charles  Houser, 
S.  T.  Havern,  William  H.  Havern,  Bernard  Horn,  William  Higgins,  James 
Holden,  James  M.  Ivy,  Charles  Jennison,  Richard  Johnson,  Arthur  Jarmin,  Har- 
vey Jones,  Frederick  Karclell,  Jesse  Kinder,  Isaac  N.  Knight,  James  Luckey,  T. 
P.  H.  Loveless,  Thomas  Mathews,  Frederick  Neal,  James  K.  Polston,  James 
Pendergress,  Oscar  Richtmire,  Joseph  J.  Ramey,  John  M.  Sanders,  Hosea  V. 
Sawyer,  James  W.  Smith,  Levi  S.  Sparks,  Anderson  Sawyer,  Charles  W.  Smith, 
Clarbourne  Scroggins,  Peter  Seaman,  William  H.  Snyder,  William  E.  Sharp, 
James  P.  S.  Starks,  James  Thornton,  Richard  Thornton,  James  M.  Taylor,  Fred- 
erick Thatch,  Henry  Upperman,  Richard  Voils,  Thomas  Vernsdale,  J.  S.  Val- 
entine, James  H.  Warnack,.  George  H.  Walker,  James  H.  Washburne,  Ernest 
Webber,  William  J.  Westrope,  Thomas  White. 

Recruits,  William  H.  Anderson,  James  W.  S.  Bess,  Alexander  Caulk,  Alvin 
Dix,  Josiah  Pruitt,  Charles  S.  Smith.- 

Company  K. 

Captains,  Josiah  Borough,  John  S.  Colter;  second  lieutenants,  Thomas  Miller, 
James  McKee;  sergeants,  Hardin  Heatherford,  Frank  Cameron,  George  Craig, 
Martin  O'Rourk ;  corporals,  John  W.  Loveless,  John  Teeley,  David  Sutton,  Will- 
iam Weatherford,  James  Kirby,  Thomas  Phillips,  Daniel  Kincaid,  Russel  Langley; 
musicians,  William  Knowles,  John  Jordan ;  wagoner,  John  Shoemaker. 

Privates,  William  Brydon,  William  G.  Bishop,  Thomas  Brock,  William  L. 
Bishop,  John  W.  Barrett,  William  Carnell,  Hugh  Colton,  John  S.  Crane,  Thomas 
Dier,  John  Durn,  Andrew  W.  Dorman,  Daniel  Dougherty,  David  Davidson, 
Thomas  Edwards,  Jacob  F.  Eichin,  Alexander  Filer,  George  W.  Elmore,  Henry 
Flantje,  Frank  Fulton,  Patrick  Grogan,  F.  M.  Greenawalt,  Patrick  W.  Gallagher, 
James  F.  Gibson,  William  H.  Greenawalt,  William  R.  Greenawalt,  William  R. 
Gaston,  Samuel  F.  M.  Hicks,  Edward  Husman,  William  Kelly,  Thomas  Lee, 
John  Luft,  Huston  Maberry,  William  R.  Mooney,  John  G.  Martin,  James  Milsted, 
John  M.  Nivans,  George  T.  Petty,  Joseph  L.  Painter,  Robert  A.  Queen,  James 
Ramey,  Frederick  Riser,  Ernst  Russell,  John  Redman,  John  M.  Rue,  Green  W. 
Rogers,  Solomon  Simmons,  Woerner  Schoette,  James  K.  P.  Stone,  William  A. 
Sullivan,  William  H.  Simmons,  Joseph  M.  Smith,  James  Stark,  Thomas  B.  Tilley, 
William  Whitworth,  Joseph  W.  Wright,  William  Wright,  Payton  L.  Wolf. 

Unassigned  recruits,  Elisha  C.  Burton,  A.  J.  Ellen,  David  Hutchinson. 

ONE     HUNDRED    THIRTY-THIRD     INFANTRY. 

Colonel,  Thaddeus  Phillips ;  quartermaster,  Thomas  B.  Clark ;  second  surgeon, 
James  B.  Corr;  non-commissioned  staff  quartermaster  sergeant,  Francis  A. 
Vickery. 

Vol.    I— IS 


194  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Company  A. 

Corporal,  John  T.  Anderson. 
Private,  Charles  H.  Goodrich. 

Company  F. 

Captain,  George  W.  Duggar;  first  lieutenant,  Allen  Cockell,  second  lieutenant, 
Henry  A.  Sturgis ;  first  lieutenant,  Samuel  M.  Lewis,  sergeants,  Charles  B.  Rich- 
ardson, Charles  L.  Andust,  John  H.  Hall ;  corporals,  John  K.  Tafft,  Thomas  M. 
Stephenson,  Charles  Dorman,  Jeremiah  M.  Reed,  John  H.  Partridge,  William  P. 
Keller,  William  D.  Graham,  Joseph  S.  McMillan. 

Privates,  Samuel  O'Barr,  Samuel  L.  Berryman,  Lindsley  M.  Barnett,  George 
Braley,  William  E.  Bridges,  Frederick  D.  Bailey,  Charles  Bodah,  Samuel  M. 
Berry,  Albert  C.  Corr,  T.  B.  Corey,  George  W.  Clark,  Thomas  H.  Church,  Robert 
Carter,  Jr.,  Robert  Cowell,  John  Cashel,  John  W.  Cummings,  James  M.  Duggar, 
Nicholas  Dubois,  Edmond  J.  De  Leuw,  Theodore  H.  Ellis,  Charles  W.  Ellis,  Pat- 
rick Fishback,  Charles  H.  Ferguson,  Thomas  J.  Galbreath,  Elijah  Harlan,  Andrew 
J.  Harris,  George  W.  Hall,  Jacob  Kessinger,  James  P.  Kessinger,  Minett  J.  Keeler, 
Charles  Long,  T.  W.  Lefton,  Charles  E.  Lewis,  Austin  L.  Lair,  James  L.  Leaton, 
Charles  H.  Loud,  Samuel  Mills,  James  Morrison,  William  A.  Nelson,  Robert  O. 
Perviance,  Harvey  M.  Peebles,  Thomas  Potts,  Joseph  F.  Penn,  James  Ramey, 
John  W.  Rogers,  Thomas  J.  Rollins,  Mathew  Sliegack,  Thomas  D.  Stansbury, 
William  Schutze,  Larkin  Smock,  Elijah  D.  Solomon,  Morse  Sterling,  James  W. 
Towney,  Edmond  J.  Trible,  William  Wolf,  John  Wones,  R.  O.  Wood,  Samuel  M. 
Welton,  John  Weed,  Andrew  J.  Washburn,  James  M.  Young,  Howard  L.  Young. 

Company  G. 

Captain,  William  H.  Edwards;  second  lieutenant,  Rufus  C.  Barnett;  first  ser- 
geant, Charles  W.  Bailey ;  sergeants,  Thomas  B.  Robinson,  Lucas  B.  Parmeter, 
George  W.  Spangle,  William  H.  Sutton ;  corporals,  Dey  Blenliff,  David  W.  Camp- 
bell, Ebert  A.  Shannon,  George  Morrison,  Lewis  Martin,  Timothy  M.  Gates, 
Benjamin  A.  Jones,  John  W.  Bossinger;  musician,  David  Knowles. 

Privates,  Aaron  Armstrong,  John  Alsop,  Hubert  C.  Burton,  Wesley  Bossinger, 
John  A.  Cochran,  George  W.  Cochran,  James  P.  Clark,  John  F.  Chandler,  Benton 
Callison,  Moses  Callison,  James  Dooley,  Hiram  English,  George  Ewing,  William 
Elliott,  Joseph  C.  Gates,  George  Hendrix,  Isaac  Hardin,  Joseph  Jacobs,  James  F. 
Missick,  William  H.  McGovern,  James  McPherson,  D.  McDonalds,  Robert  S. 
Nelson,  Isaac  Osburn,  H.  F."  Pentzer,  Cyrus  Puitt,  Peter  J.  Range,  Henry  C. 
Fange,  George  B.  Rickett,  James  Spangle,  Hezekiah  Short,  Warren  Smith, 
Leonard  Simmermaker,  August  Sawyer,  Charles  F.  Subby,  Charles  Smith,  Jacob 
Warner. 

Recruit,  R.  F.  Gray. 

Company  H. 

Captain,  R.  T.  Rose ;  second  lieutenant,  James  A.  Young ;  first  sergeant,  Joel 
H.  Sauls;  sergeants,  John  H.  Rice,  Samuel  T.  Hawkins,  David  H.  King;  cor- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  195 

porals,  Thomas  J.  Young,  John  Hulse,  Elijah  Cole,  George  W.  Stewart,  John  C. 
Alford,  Charles  F.  Alford,  Richard  Beatty,  William  J.  Bates,  Oliver  P.  Baker, 
George  S.  Cloud,  William  Crouch,  William  F.  Crum,  Randolph  Doss,  William 
A.  Ditson,  Thomas  Dotson,  George  W.  Fink,  William  Fink,  Robert  J.  Graves, 
J.  G.  Graham,  George  W.  Gray,  James  H.  Hamilton,  John  L.  Hodges,  John  H. 
Hanshaw,  James  Jones,  Wesley  M.  King,  John  Lambert,  Cicero  Mansel,  Isaac  N. 
Morris,  Mathias  O'Neil,  William  W.  Pulliam,  John  G.  Patterson,  John  F.  Rich- 
mond, Oscar  L.  Rose,  Samuel  L.  Richardson,  George  W.  Rice,  Joseph  N.  Ross, 
Robert  M.  Rice,  John  B.  Tucker,  Dennis  Turner,  Joseph  D.  Welsh. 

ONE  HUNDRED  FORTIETH   INFANTRY. 

Company  D. 

Corporal,  Medric  Holly ;  wagoner,  Theodore  Wilson. 

Privates,  Alfred  A.  Bade,  George  Grafton,  Robert  J.  Dryman,  Thomas 
Eckles,  Erastus  H.  Fisk,  Henry  R.  Gratiot,  William  Hackett,  Sidney  L.  Morgan, 
John  Miller,  Hiram  F.  Moeller,  Stephen.  F.  Oliver,  David  S.  Page,  Bruce  Park, 
Nickham  Reynolds,  Gideon  W.  Seavey,  Edward  Sax,  Jacob  Schrock,  Samuel 
Shaw,  Julian  W.  Stillwell,  Fletcher  Seavey,  Lewis  G.  Sartorious,  William  Schock, 
Francis  Tilton,  Isaac  Vandervort,  Edwin  C.  Wetherbee,  John  Williams. 

ONE  HUNDRED  FIFTIETH  INFANTRY. 

Company  G. 

Sergeant,  Howard  L.  Young. 

Privates,  Herbert  C.  Benton,  William  Chappell,  Joseph  L.  Cannon,  Franklin 
Denham,  John  Elliott,  Pinkley  Goock,  Thomas  Harberson,  William  H.  McGov- 
ern,  Lewis  Robinson,  Edward  Rose. 

•ONE  HUNDRED  FIFTY-SECOND  INFANTRY. 

Company  E. 
Private,  Andrew   Ackerman. 

Company  I. 

First  sergeant,  Waddy  Johnson;  sergeant,  Frederick  D.  Railey;  corporals, 
Michael  D.  Rainey,  Joshua  D.  Kerr,  Harman  M.  Friend,  Aaron  D.  Townsend, 
John  B.  Hubbard,  Aaron  Lane;  musician,  Theodore  A.  Ellis. 

Privates,  John  Anderson,  David  U.  Anderson,  Elijah  D.  Bullman,  William 
Buckman,  Isa  Barton,  O.  F.  Butts,  Andrew  J.  Bates,  Frank  Burger,  Willis  A. 
Conner,  Martin  Crosby,  Thomas  F.  Crosby,  Joseph  Crouch,  Alfred  Davis,  John 
W.  Donaldson,  Thomas  J.  Edwards,  George  H.  Emmett,  George  Fox,  John  P. 
Fletcher,  Thomas  H.  Frazier,  George  Greengal,  John  W.  Herron,  Enoch  Hal- 
lown,  James  W.  Hamilton,  Jasper  Heuron,  William  H.  Hogan,  James  H.  Husky, 
Eli  Jackson,  Charles  E.  King,  Samuel  M.  Lewis,  Johnson  Linder,  Jabez  Lloyd, 
Lewis  S.  Lair,  Hugh  B.  Lane,  Frederick  Lahman,  John  S.  La  Force,  Michael 
Manning,  D.  Montgomery,  James  H.  Mattison,  Jesse  P.  Morris,  William  S.  Mil- 


196  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

ler,  James  Martin,  Isaac  Mulkey,  Charles  D.  Oliver,  Harvey  M.  Peebles,  James  B. 
Peebles,  J.  G.  Patterson,  John  Pierce,  Gilbert  F.  Peacock,  T.  B.  Richardson,  Wil- 
liam E.  Ryan,  Edward  F.  Rice,  Hiram  Sherrel,  John  Shipfer,  W.  J.  Seamon, 
Henry  A.  Stout,  Isaac  Tarvis,  John  R.  Turner,  Robert  P.  Wamach,  John  Wones, 
James  H.  Whitmore. 

THIRD    CAVALRY. 

This  regiment  was  under  command  of  Colonel  Carr.  Company  L  was  raised 
in  Macoupin  county.  David  R.  Sparks  was  captain,  Norreden  Cowen  first  lieu- 
tenant. The  regiment  was  organized  by  Colonel  E.  A.  Carr  in  August,  1861.  It 
was  ordered  to  St.  Louis  in  September ;  thence  to  Jefferson  City ;  thence  to  War- 
saw; October  n  was  in  the  movement  against  Springfield;  was  with  Sigel's 
Division  and  was  the  last  to  leave  Springfield ;  November  19  reached  Rolla ; 
December  29  moved  in  the  advance  of  Curtis'  army ;  fought  the  first  battle  and 
won  the  first  victory  of  Curtis'  campaign  near  Springfield.  On  the  I5th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1862,  it  captured  prisoners  from  Price's  retreating  army  at  Crane  Creek 
and  also  participated  in  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge;  on  the  i8th  at  Sugar  Creek  the 
Third  Battalion  charged  and  routed  the  enemy;  marched  and  skirmished  with 
the  enemy,  losing  some  men;  May  14  moved  to  Little  Red  river;  fell  back  to 
Fairview ;  on  the  7th  Captain  Sparks,  who  with  sixty-six  men,  was  sent  out  to 
reconnoiter  and  fell  into  ambush  at  a  crossroads,  was  surrounded  by  three  hun- 
dred of  the  enemy,  but  bravely  led  his  men  and  cut  his  way  out,  losing  four 
wounded  and  four  prisoners.  The  regiment  reached  Batesville  on  the  nth; 
marched  to  Jacksonport ;  July  5  moved  with  the  army  for  Helena,  reaching  that 
place  on  the  isth.  Detachments  of  the  regiment  engaged  in  scouting,  including 
Captain  Kirkbridge's  raid  to  St.  Francis  river  and  five  companies  with  General 
Hovey's  raid  to  Grenada.  On  the  23d  of  December,  1862,  Company  L  and  five 
other  companies  under  command  of  Kirkbridge,  embarked  for  Vicksburg  and 
did  good  service  on  picket  and  escort  duty  in  the  disastrous  attack  on  Vicksburg, 
Company  L  being  one  of  the  last  to  embark.  The  latter  was  detailed  to  act  as 
escort  for  General  McClernand.  The  regiment  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Tupelo, 
Okolona  and  Guntown,  also  in  the  battles  of  Lawrenceburg,  Spring  Hill,  Camp- 
bellsville  and  Franklin.  December  i5th  it  was  first  in  the  enemy's  works,  when 
General  Hatch  turned  the  left  of  the  enemy.  In  January,  1865,  it  drove  the 
enemy  across  the  Tennessee,  being  then  under  command  of  General  Wilson.  In 
May  it  was  sent  to  St.  Louis,  thence  to  St.  Paul ;  July  4  started  on  an  Indian 
expedition  over  the  plains  of  Minnesota  and  Dakota,  north  to  the  British  lines; 
south  and  west  to  Devil's  Lake  and  Fort  Barthold.  October  13,  1865,  it  was 
mustered  out  at  Springfield,  having  made  a  creditable  record. 

Company  L. 

First  sergeant,  Benjamin  F.  Cowell;  sergeants,  William  Snell,  John  A.  Hig- 
gins;  corporals,  Charles  A.  Damby,  James  Snell,  William  M.  Mitchell,  Henry 
Albright;  bugler,  Benjamin  Harra;  farrier,  John  H.  Purdy;  blacksmith,  Charles 
Tittmire ;  saddler,  Ferdinand  Bartman ;  wagoners,  Henry  Adler,  Joseph  Bartman, 
Henry  Best,  Harvey  Best,  John  Boot,  John  Bullock,  John  Brown,  Charles  Ben- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  197 

ning,  Andrew  M.  Chapman,  August  Dingerson,  Simon  L.  A.  Ferris,  Jacob  Frey, 
John  Frey,  William  R.  Funderburk,  Abel  E.  Funderburk,  William  B.  Green, 
Joseph  Green,  Samuel  O.  Higgins,  Charles  Hoffman,  Charles  Jackson,  William 
Kingdon,  Robert  P.  Louis,  Cede  Lombartus,  George  W.  Marsh,  Michael  Morrow, 
John  Michael,  Noah  W.  Powers,  E.  L.  Powers,  J.  B.  Purdy,  John  Shoen,  William 
Shultz,  George  H.  Snell,  George  Sturgen,  Garrett  Tallant,  George  Taylor,  Phillip 
M.  Wagoner,  Frank  Wise. 

Veterans,  Alexander  S.  Robertson. 

Recruits,  George  E.  Ferris,  Daniel  Ferris,  Monroe  Higgins,  John  Jacobs, 
William  S.  Lockwood,  James  Pore,  Richard  W.  Ripley,  Allen  Vanhooser,  Henry 
Whalen. 

SEVENTH    CAVALRY. 

Company  G. 
Recruit,  John  T.  Borrow. 

Company  I. 

Recruits,  Alexander  Kendall,  Benjamin  A.  Pell. 

NINTH   CAVALRY. 

Company  D. 

Captain,  Lewellyn  Cowen ;  first  lieutenants,  John  H.  McMahan,  James  H. 
Haylett;  corporal,  John  W.  Weisner. 

Privates,  John  Feneil,  James  H.  Hazlett,  Francis  Holliday,  Hiram  A.  Haw- 
kins, John  H.  Johnson,  Michael  Schrieder. 

Recruits,  James  Conner,  Anthony  Dumas,  Thomas  J.  Quails,  John  Stritt- 
matter,  John  C.  Weimer. 

.;•  TENTH    CAVALRY. 

Company  C. 

Veterans,  Robert  B.  Clark,  Michael  Faun,  Henry  Fever,  Delphi  Fever,  John 
Linneaues,  James  Nedo,  Elmer  W.  Walker. 

Recruits,  Josiah  Anderson,  Stephen  Davidson,  George  W.  Eldridge,  Samuel 
H.  Enos. 

Company  E. 

Captain,  William  H.  Stout ;  first  lieutenant,  Henry  J.  Solomon ;  second  lieu- 
tenant, William  J.  Dorman;  farrier,  Byron  P.  Henderson. 

Privates,  William  J.  Dorman,  Thomas  Doty,  William  H.  Finley,  Moses  L. 
Patterson,  Henry  Quinton,  Henry  J.  Solomon,  William  J.  Smith,  George  W. 
White. 

Veterans,  Jacob  Mize,  Jugurtha  M.  Shuler,  Jonas  M.  Shuler. 

Recruits,  Thomas  J.  Baker,  Edward  H.  Henderson,  James  A.  Nelson,  Wage 
Nelson,  Jugurtha  Shuler,  William  S.  Stewart,  Thomas  Vancourt,  Elias  Vancourt, 
Joseph  A.  Witt. 

Company  H. 

Private,  William  Larrabee. 


198  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

ELEVENTH   CAVALRY. 

Company  A. 
Recruit,  Hiram  Lueneman. 

FIRST  REGIMENT  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

Battery  F. 

Privates,  John  J.  Cox,  Jacob  Hoffman,  John  Reardon,  Rush  Shick,  James 
Thompson,  William  M.  Black,  Franklin  Conway,  Homer  H.  Clink,  John  W. 
Deck,  Alfred  Eyre,  Theodore  Johnson,  Henry  W.  Short,  John  Tombow,  Van  J. 
Thomas. 

SECOND  ILLINOIS  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

Company  B  of  this  regiment  was  recruited  at  Girard  by  Captain  Fletcher  H. 
Chapman,  who  had  gained  experience  as  an  officer  of  artillery  in  Missouri,  con- 
nected with  Palmer's  regiment.  Only  twenty-five  or  thirty  members  were  raised 
here  and  this  company  was  consolidated  with  that  of  Captain  Rolla  Madison 
and  made  Company  B,  the  latter  assuming  command.  They  were  placed  in  charge 
of  a  battery  of  heavy  artillery,  consisting  of  five  twenty-four-pound  siege  guns 
and  one  sixty-four-pound  howitzer,  for  service  in  the  field.  It  was  ordered  from 
St.  Louis  to  Pittsburg  Landing,  arriving  there  the  night  before  the  first  day's  bat- 
tle of  Shiloh.  The  battery  opened  fire  from  the  last  line  about  three  o'clock  Sun- 
day afternoon  and  did  splendid  service,  aiding  materially  with  its  heavy  fire  in 
checking  the  enemy's  advance.  On  the  second  day  the  heavy  guns  and  the 
howitzer  were  sent  to  the  front.  The  battery  was  hauled  by  oxen  on  the  move- 
ment against  Corinth  and  was  called  by  the  troops  the  "Bull  Battery."  At  the 
battle  of  Corinth  Captain  Chapman  was  in  command.  He  was  afterward  bre- 
veted major,  but  was  never  mustered.  The  company  was  stationed  at  Corinth 
until  January,  1864,  when  it  was  ordered  to  Memphis,  turned  over  the  heavy 
guns  and  took  charge  of  a  battery  of  light  artillery.  It  was  ordered  on  the  Sturgis 
raid  and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Guntown.  On  the  retreat  the  guns  had  to  be 
abandoned  in  the  swamp.  The  company  returned  to  Memphis,  whence  it  was 
ordered  to  Columbus,  Kentucky,  the  term  of  enlistment  soon  expiring.  They 
did  service  in  .two  of  the  greatest  battles  of  the  war.  They  received  their  final 
payment  and  discharge  at  Springfield. 


CHAPTER  XII. 
RELIGIOUS. 

THE   CHURCH    ALWAYS    COMES    FIRST  IN    A     NEW     COMMUNITY MANY     HANDSOME 

HOUSES  OF    WORSHIP   ERECTED    IN    THE    COUNTY    IN    RECENT    YEARS A    LIST    OF 

ORGANIZATIONS   IN  THE  COUNTY. 

PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH,    CARLINVILLE. 

In  the  primitive  days  of  this  community,  many  of  those  who  had  removed 
here  from  the  older  settled  states,  being  dissatisfied  with  the  religious  conditions 
of  the  times  and  encouraged  by  the  leadership  of  Dr.  Gideon  Blackburn,  decided 
to  organize  a  Presbyterian  church.  Thereupon,  on  the  3Oth  day  of  June,  1834, 
notice  having  been  publicly  given,  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  court  house,  at 
Carlinville,  and  the  following  persons  presented  themselves  for  membership  in 
the  church  association  there  to  be  effected:  Ellen  Moore,  Lucy  Stephenson, 
Julia  A.  White,  Alice  Good,  Lucy  N.  Greathouse,  Mrs.  Harlan,  Mrs.  Parks, 
Malvina  Hoxey,  Edward  Plant,  Elijah  Harlan,  James  Parks,  John  S.  Greathouse, 
Thomas  D.  Moore  and  Ruth  Holton.  These  men  and  women,  having  been  duly 
and  satisfactorily  examined,  were  regularly  organized  into  a  Presbyterian  church 
society,  by  the  Rev.  Gideon  Blackburn.  The  elders  elected  and  ordained  at  this 
time  were  Elijah  Harlan,  James  Parks,  Thomas  D.  Moore,  John  S.  Greathouse 
and  Edwarji  Plant.  Rev.  S.  E.  Blackburn,  son  of  Dr.  Gideon  Blackburn,  was 
chosen  as  the  first  pastor. 

For  a  number  of  years  the  church  labored  under  adverse  conditions.  The 
Biblical  observance  of  the  Sabbath  day  was  practically  ignored  and  the  church 
felt  impelled  to  place  itself  on  record  as  standing  for  a  higher  plane  of  Christian 
living,  and  therefore,  in  1837,  appointed  a  committee  to  draft  a  report,  setting 
forth  its  views  regarding  the  duties  of  its  members.  That  report  reads  as  fol- 
lows: 

"In  view  of  the  great  neglect  of  Christian  duty  and  obligation  of  church  mem- 
bers throughout  the  whole  of  our  western  Zion,  and  also  in  this  portion  of  our 
church,  we  feel  it  to  be  our  duty  as  officers  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Car- 
linville, to  lay  before  the  church,  individually  and  as  a  body,  our  views  and 
determinations  in  regard  to  this  subject. 

"First,  we  regard  the  practice  that  exists  among  many  church  members  of 
making  social  visits,  traveling  by  land  or  by  water  and  attending  to  unnecessary 
temporal  affairs  on  the  Sabbath,  as  un-Christian  and  an  open  violation  of  the 

199 


200  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

command  of  God  to  'keep  the  Sabbath  day  holy,'  and  deserving  in  all  cases 
church  discipline,  and  we  hereby  enjoin  it  upon  all  members  of  our  church  to 
be  careful  in  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  as  we  are  determined  in  the  future 
to  exercise  the  discipline  in  all  cases  where  the  Sabbath  is  thus  violated. 

"Second,  We  regard  the  habit  of  using  ardent  spirits  as  a  beverage  by  church 
members  in  this  day  of  light  and  effort  in  behalf  of  the  temperance  reformation 
as  contrary  to  the  spirit  of  the  gospel  and  the  law  of  God,  which  says,  'Thou 
shall  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself.'  We  therefore  recommend  to  all  the  mem- 
bers of  the  church  to  become  members  of  temperance  societies  if  they  have  not 
heretofore  done  it,  and  although  we  cannot  as  a  session  act  in  regard  to  this 
matter  as  to  what  has  heretofore  been  done,  still  it  is  our  determination  here- 
after to  admit  no  one  to  the  church  who  will  not  agree  to  abstain  from  the  use  of 
ardent  spirits  as  a  beverage  and  to  make  violations  of  the  temperance  pledge 
matters  of  church  discipline. 

"Finally,  We  would  enjoin  it  upon  all  the  members  of  our  church  to  be 
regular  and  punctual  in  their  attendance  upon  all  the  means  of  grace,  to  engage 
according  to  their  ability  in  assisting  the  great  benevolent  operations  of  the 
day,  to  be  careful  and  guarded  in  their  conversation,  especially  to  refrain  from 
speaking  harshly,  maliciously,  or  slanderously  of  their  fellow  Christians,  and  to 
live  with  each  other  and  before  the  world  worthy  of  their  high  vocation,  adorn- 
ing their  profession  as  Christians  and  letting  their  example  have  a  salutary  in- 
fluence on  all  around." 

Rev.  S.  E.  Blackburn  remained  in  the  pulpit  two  years  and  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  John  R.  Simral,  whose  ministry  lasted  one  year.  Rev.  Gideon  Blackburn 
frequently  filled  a  vacant  pulpit  until  November,  1837,  when  Rev.  L.  S.  Will- 
iamson was  called  as  a  supply  and  remained  until  1843.  In  August  of  that  year 
Rev.  J.  A.  Ranney  was  called  as  supply  and  served  about  three  years. 
.  No  church  records  were  kept  from  March  30,  1846,  to  March  18,  1848,  but 
within  this  period  the  membership  became  reduced.  Rev.  J.  S.  Graves  was  in 
charge  here  and  in  1848,  a  general  meeting  of  the  church  was  held  to  consider 
a  plan  for  reorganizing  and  placing  it  upon  a  more  substantial  footing.  It  had 
appeared  that  there  were  not  enough  male  members  sufficient  for  its  'organization 
and  for  conducting  the  regular  services.  Therefore,  an  attempt  was  made  at 
that  time  to  dissolve  the  church  by  dismissing  unfaithful  members  and  reorgan- 
izing by  receiving  new  members  and  electing  new  officers.  It  seems  this  object 
was  consummated  and  in  the  reorganization  fifteen  members  were  secured  and 
while  the  Presbytery  failed  to  approve  the  proposed  dissolution,  the  object  of 
the  active  membership  was  secured  and  the  church  work  went  forward  with  re- 
newed vigor  and  success. 

September  17,  1848.  Rev.  Joseph  M.  Grant  was  chosen  as  the  pastor  and 
served  about  one  year. 

January  19,  1851,  a  branch  of  the  church  was  organized  with  thirteen  mem- 
bers at  Fairview  Academy,  which  was  a  school  located  about  six  miles  southeast' 
of  Carlinville.  This  branch  existed  for  some  years  and  by  reason  of  death  and 
removal  lost  its  identity. 

From  the  record  it  is  gathered  that  Rev.  A.  M.  Dixon  was  pastor  of  this 
church  from  1849  unt1'  m  ^54-  The  pulpit  was  then  suppl:ecl  by  Rev.  E.  Jenney. 


Catholic   Church  Episcopal    Church 

CAKLINVILLE 


LlbiiAHY 

OF   IH£ 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  201 

a  home  missionary,  until  July  16,  185/1,  when  Rev.  C.  A.  Leach  was  employed 
as  supply,  remaining  one  year.  In  July,  1856,  Rev.  Edward  McMillan  came  as 
stated  supply  and  then  served  as  pastor  until  1862.  Father  McMillan,  as  he  was 
known,  was  one  of  the  strongest  characters  associated  with  the  church  and  built 
it  up  materially,  giving  the  organization  life  and  strength  and  his  influence  lasting 
long  after  his  pastorate  had  closed.  Although  from  a  slave  state,  his  sympathies 
•  were  strongly  anti-slavery  and  for  the  Union.  It  is  related  of  him  that  as  a 
result  of  one  of  his  eloquent  anti-slavery  sermons  several  pro-slavery  sym- 
pathizers left  the  meeting.  Father  McMillan  believed  in  standing  for  his  .prin- 
ciples, and  in  1862  enlisted  as  chaplain  of  the  Thirty-second  Illinois  Volunteers, 
known  as  John  A.  Logan's  regiment.  For  two  years  he  cared  for  both  the 
spiritual  and  corporal  necessities  of  his  regiment  and  then  gave  up  his  life  at 
Marietta,  Georgia,  on  April  27,  1864. 

Rev.  I.  N.  Newton  was  a  supply  from  October,  1862,  to  July,  1863.  In  the 
spring  of  1865,  Rev.  J.  B.  L.  Soule  was  called  to  the  pulpit  here.  He  was  a 
man  noted  for  his  scholarly  attainments,  and  in  his  joint  labors  as  pastor,  and 
professor  of  Blackburn  University,  won  the  esteem  of  the  people  of  his  pastorate 
and  the  students  of  the  university.  Although  not  widely  known  as  such,  he  was 
a  poet  of  distinction.  His  pastorate  extended  to  1868,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  John  Patchen  in  January,  1869.  The  latter  served  about  one  year.  In 
1870  Hugh  Lamont  became  the  pastor  of  this  church  and  served  until  May,  1872. 
During  his  pastorate  the  present  church  edifice  was  erected,  the  dedication  of 
which  took  place  on  January  8,  1871.  From  1872  to  1873  the  pulpit  was  supplied 
by  Professor  Soule  and  Dr.  J.  W.  Bailey,  president  of  Blackburn  University. 
In  1873,  Rev.  S.  A.  Whitcomb  was  chosen  as  stated  supply  and  served  until  July, 
1874.  He  was  installed  pastor  in  April  of  the  latter  year. 

In  August,  1874,  Rev.  Soule  was  again  found  in  the  pulpit,  where  he  served 
six  months.  His  successor  was  Rev.  William  Jeffries,  who  served  as  supply 
for  eighteen  months.  In  1876,  Rev.  Soule  was  recalled 'and  remained  in  charge 
here  until  1878. 

Beginning  August,  1878,  this  pulpit  was  supplied  alternately  by  Dr.  Edwin  L. 
Hurd,  president  of  Blackburn  University,  and  Dr.  Rufus  Nutting,  professor  at 
the  same  institution,  until  1881.  The  list  below  is  of  the  pastors  who  have 
served  in  recent  years:  Dr.  William  W.  Paris,  1881-3;  RCV-  W.  H.  Hillis, 
1883-7;  Dr.  E.  S.  McMichael,  1888-90;  Dr.  William  S.  Pryse,  1891-5;  Revs. 
Frank  J.  Connor,  1895-9;  A.  F.  Hertel,  1899-1903 ;  W.  H.  Parker,  1903-06; 
Willis  Patchen,  1906-08;  Francis  Lee  Goff,  1908-10;  D.  R.  Jones,  1911. 

The  first  mention  of  a  Sabbath  school  in  the  records  is  made  in  1845  when 
a  library,  valued  at  $22  was  purchased  for  the  Sabbath  school.  As  a  result  of 
the  unfavorable  condition  of  the  church  in  1847,  the  Sabbath  school  seems  to 
have  died  a  natural  death.  After  the  reorganization  of  the  church  in  1848  the 
Sabbath  school  was  revivified  and  from  then  on  up  to  the  present  it  has  been  a 
very  successful  auxiliary. 

During  the  life  of  the  church  there  has  been  a  total  membership  of  about 
900.  Out  of  this  number  many  have  scattered  to  different  parts  of  the  world, 
spreading  the  work  begun  in  this  church.  Of  these  may  be  mentioned  Revs. 
William  Johnson,  and  J.  M.  B.  Smith  and  Miss  Emma  Parks.  Missionaries 


202  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

to  China:  Dr.  Joseph  Bedel,  in  Arabia;  Dr.  Duncan  J.  McMillan,  son  of  the 
former  pastor,  Edward  McMillan,  who,  as  home  missionary  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  Utah,  did  valiant  service  toward  breaking  the  power  of  the  Mormon 
church. 

PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,  VIRDEN. 

June  3,  1854,  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Virden  was  organized  and  when 
the  first  half  century  of  the  church's  history  rolled  around,  in  June,  1904,  the 
event  was  celebrated  by  appropriate  ceremonies. 

The  committee  to  whom  had  been  assigned  the  duty  of  organizing  the 
church,  "should  the  way  be  open,"  was  appointed  at  a  meeting  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Illinois,  held  at  Chatham,  Illinois,  in  April,  1854,  and  consisted  in  the 
.first  place  of  Revs.  John  G.  Rankin,  Josiah  Porter  and  A.  M.  Dixon.  Resv. 
Rankin  and  Porter  came  to  Virden  on  the  3d  of  June  and  proceeded  to  do  the 
work  the  Presbytery  had  committed  to  them.  They  were  assisted  in  this  by 
Rev.  Elisha  Jenney.  They  found  eight  persons  who  had  letters  of  admission  and 
recommendation  from  other  churches,  and  who  were  desirous  of  being  organized 
into  a  Presbyterian  church.  The  names  of  these  persons  as  they  appear  on 
the  records  are  as  follows :  John  I.  Beattie,  Lucy  Beattie,  Sr.,  Letitia  Beatty, 
Rufus  W.  Loud,  Jane  Loud,  Elizabeth  Jane  Loud,  Lucy  D.  Hardin  and  Emily 
Hardin.  Their  certificates  were  received  and  they  were  organized  into  a  church 
"to  be  known  under  the  name  and  style  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of 
Virden." 

From  May  4,  1856,  until  March,  1858,  when  the  church  building  was  ded- 
icated, the  meetings  of  the  session  were  held  at  the  home  of  John  I.  Beattie. 

The  first  steps  for  the  erection  of  a  church  building  were  taken  in  No- 
vember, 1856.  At  a  meeting  that  was  held  A.  L.  Virden  was  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  solicit  subscriptions  for  said  purpose,  and  it  is  stated  that  "$1.500 
was  subscribed  on  the  spot."  This  amount  was  later  increased  to  $2,300.  A 
loan  of  $500  was  secured  from  the  church  erection  fund,  making  the  total 
amount  obtained,  $2,800.  The  building  was  completed  and  dedicated  March 
24,  1858,  the  dedicatory  sermon  being  preached  by  Professor  W.  D.  Sanders. 
The  total  cost  of  the  building  was  $4,000. 

The  church  was  supplied  from  its  organization  until  May,  1859,  by  minis- 
ters from  Jacksonville,  Springfield,  Chatham,  Carlinville  and  Waverly.  Among 
them  were  Revs.  Porter,  Dodge,  Watson,  Downer,  McMillan  and  Jenney.  In 
May,  1859,  Rev.  W.  L.  Tarbet  took  charge  and  served  the  church  for  twenty- 
one  years.  When  he  became  pastor  the  actual  active  membership  of  the  church 
consisted  of  about  forty  persons.  This  number  steadily  increased  until  one 
hundred  and  fifty-four  members  were  added  during  his  pastorate.  There  was 
an  unusually  large  accession  to  the  church  at  the  communion  service  April  i, 
1866.  Rev.  Tarbet  tendered  his  resignation  as  pastor,  March  7,  1880.  Upon 
his  departure  the  church  purchased  his  residence  for  a  parsonage,  at  a  cost  of 
$2,000.  In  May,  1880,  a  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  W.  A.  Dunning,  who  came 
and  remained  for  five  years.  After  he  left  this  charge  the  church  was  without 
a  pastor  for  a  year,  when  in  September,  1886,  Rev.  W.  R.  Moore  became  pastor. 
He  remained  until  September,  1887.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  M.  Rob- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  203 

inson,  who  came  in  May,  1888,  and  served  seven  years.  During  his  ministry 
one  hundred  and  seven  members  were  added  to  the  'church.  Rev.  Robinson 
resigned  November  23,  1895,  and  from  that  time  until  October  i,  1896,  the 
church  was  without  a  regular  pastor.  On  that  date  Rev.  John  M.  Pomeroy 
became  a  supply. 

In  April,  1898,  the  church  underwent  extensive  repairs  at  a  cost  of  $1,250, 
provided  for  by  the  Ladies  Aid  Society,  and  in  October  of  the  same  year  the 
church  was  rededicated,  Rev.  W.  L.  Tarbet,  who  had  for  so  many  years  served 
as  pastor  of  the  church,  preaching  the  dedicatory  sermon.  Rev.  Pomeroy  was 
followed  by  Rev.  W.  B.  Milton,  as  pastor,  who  served  for  only  six  months, 
when  in  the  fall  of  1900  Rev.  W.  M.  Grafton  came  and  served  until  the  spring 
of  1902.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  L.  H.  Schock.  In  1907  O.  L.  Pride 
became  the  pastor  of  this  charge  and  remained  until  1911,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  William  L.  Porter.  That  same  year  ground  was  broken  for  a  hand- 
some new  church  building,  to  cost  about  $20,000. 

FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN  -CHURCH,    STAUNTON. 

The  First  Presbyterian  church,  which  was  first  known  as  Bethany  church, 
was  organized  November  18,  1843,  by  Rev.  A.  C.  Allen.  The  persons  whose 
names  follow  were  the  original  members:  James  F.  Spillman,  Sr.,  James  F. 
Spillman,  Jr.,  Sarah  V.  Spillman,  Mary  A.  Spillman,  William  B.  Higgins,  Eliz- 
abeth R.  Higgins,  Charles  Fishback  and  Mary  M.  Fishback. 

The  first  church  was  erected  upon  ground  in  the  northeast  part  of  town, 
which  was  afterwards  removed  upon  lots  donated  by  Hon.  William  C.  Shirley 
and  there  it  remained  until  about  1911,  when  it  was  again  removed,  to  its 
present  location,  upon  lots  for  which  the  society  paid  $1,800.  The  same  year 
it  is  intended  remodeling  the  building  extensively.  A  new  parsonage  was  built 
upon  this  new  site  of  the  church  in  1911. 

At  intervals  the  church  has  been  without  a  pastor.  At  other  times  it  has 
been  supplied  intermittently.  Those  now  known  to  have  had  a  regular  charge 
here  are  as  follows :  E.  F.  Chester,  who  gave  half  of  his  time  from  October, 
1844,  until  October,  1845.  In  1846  James  Stafford  came  and  for  six  months 
preached  in  this  church  one  Sunday  in  each  month.  From  November  22,  1846, 
until  the  fall  of  1847,  John  S.  Stowell  preached  every  other  Sunday.  He  was 
followed  by  P.  D.  Young,  who  remained  until  1848.  James  Stafford  then  fol- 
lowed, coming  in  the  spring  of  1850  and  remaining  six  months.  No  record 
of  a  pastor  is  given  from  that  time  until  1866  when  it  seems  that  Rev.  W.  P. 
Tietsworth  served  the  church  for  three  years.  Again  there  seems  to  be  sev- 
eral years  when  the  church  was  without  a  pastor,  but  in  1882  M.  C.  Butler 
gave  to  this  church  one  half  of  his  time  until  1885,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  R.  C.  Townsend,  who  remained  until  1888.  In  1889  James  D.  Mc- 
Caughtry  came  and  remained  until  1894,  when  C.  E.  Lukens  served  from  that 


204  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

time  until   1897.     The  present  pastor,  E.   N.  Goff,  came  in  October,   1908,  and 
is   still    serving  in    1911. 

PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH,    SHIPMAN. 

The  Shipman  Presbyterian  church  was  organized  August  3,  1856,  by  Rev. 
A.  T.  Norton,  of  Alton,  with  the  following  members :  Joseph  Rogers,  Mrs. 
Dorothea  Merywether,  Mrs.  Mildred  Floyd,  Mrs.  Jennie  Law,  Miss  Elizabeth 
Law,  Mrs.  Frances  Pollard,  A.  F.  Pope,  Mrs.  Margaret  Jane  Pope,  John  J. 
Green,  and  Mrs.  Virginia  T.  Green.  A.  T.  Barton  was  the  first  pastor.  He 
was  succeeded  by  T.  B.  Hurlbut  in  1857,  and  his  successor  was  L.  L.  Williams, 
who  remained  six  months.  Since  then  there  have  been  a  long  line  of  pastors, 
the  list  of  which  is  not  at  hand.  In  1856  a  Sunday  school  was  organized,  con- 
sisting of  forty-four  scholars  and  five  teachers,  with  William  Wilson  as  president. 

PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.     PLAINVIEW. 

This  church  was  organized  as  the  Union  church  at  the  house  of  P.  Brown, 
January  27,  1851,  by  Rev.  George  Spaulding.  The  organizing  members  num- 
bered nineteen.  August  23,  1855,  the  name  was  changed  to  the  First  Pres- 
byterian church,  Plainview.  The  first  pastor  was  H.  D.  Platt,  who  remained 
in  charge  four  years.  He  was  succeeded  by  Samuel  P.  Lindley,  who  served 
two  years,  and  was  followed  by  T.  B.  Hurlbut  one  year.  The  Presbyterian 
church  at  Shipman  is  a  branch  of  this  society. 

PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH,     BRIGHTON. 

On  the  first  Sunday  of  January,  1847,  a  meeting  was  held  in  the  Baptist 
church  in  Brighton,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  Presbyterian  church. 
Rev.  William  Chamberlain  presided.  At  that  time  there  were  sixteen  per- 
sons of  this  denomination  in  the  place:  Nathan  Johnson,  L.  B.  Stratton,  Will- 
iam Reed,  J.  W.  Gilson,  John  J.  Green,  Henry  Boulter,  Thomas  A.  Brown,  M. 
D.,  and  their  wives,  and  Mrs.  Mary  Cunningham,  and  Mrs.  Barbara  Davis. 
Rev.  George  Spaulding  was  the  pastor  and  served  both  Brighton  and  Wood- 
burn.  He  moved  to  Bunker  Hill  in  1849,  and  in  the  spring  of  1851  Rev.  H. 
D.  Platt  took  charge  and  remained  in  Brighton  until  1858.  During  1858-9  the 
pulpit  was  supplied  by  Revs.  Samuel  K.  Sneed,  Joseph  S.  Edwards  and  T.  B. 
Hurlbut. 

Early  in  the  history  of  the  church  steps  were  taken  for  the  erection  of  a 
house  of  worship  and  a  small  brick  edifice  was  built  and  dedicated  in  1851, 
by  Rev.  Thomas  Lippincott,  who  supplied  the  church  during  the  first  year's 
existence  after  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Spaulding.  This  building  gave  way  to  a 
new  one  in  1868,  which  was  dedicated  August,  1869,  by  Rev.  Bailey,  of  Carlin- 
ville. 

METHODIST    CHURCH    OF    CARLI N VILLE. 

The  Carlinville  Methodist  Episcopal  church  is  the  representative  of  what 
was  probably  the  first  organized  effort  at  Christian  labor  in  Macoupin  county. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  205 

There  may  have  been  preaching  conducted  here  by  ministers  of  other  de- 
nominations prior  to  1831  but  there  was  no  effort  made  to  organize  a  church 
until  the  fall  of  1831,  when  the  Rev.  Stith  M.  Otwell  was  sent  as  a  missionary 
to  what  was  called  Macoupin  mission,  which  embraced  in  addition  to  Macoupin, 
the  eastern  part  of  Jersey,  Greene,  and  the  southern  portion  of  Morgan  county 
and  became  known  as  Carlinville  circuit.  The  first  sermon  was  preached  by 
the  Rev.  Otwell  in  the  fall  of  1831  at  the  tavern  conducted  by  Lewis  English. 
Later,  meetings  were  held  in  the  log  court  house  which  stood  on  the  southeast 
side  of  the  public  square. 

The  first  members  of  the  society  were  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Otwell,  Mrs.  Tennis^ 
Thomas  E.  Kendall,  William  and  N.  R.  Brown  and  their  wives. 

In  the  spring  of  1832  Rev.  Otwell  established  as  preaching  points,  James 
Cave's,  now  Palmyra;  Jesse  Peebles',  now  Chesterfield;  Samuel  Keller's,  named 
Forks  of  Macoupin  near  Rhoads'  Point;  and  Otter  Creek,  now  Girard.  Serv- 
ices were  held  at  the  home  of  Bird  England.  At  Dry  Point  services  were 
held  at  the  home  of  William  Huddleson ;  at  Sugar  creek,  now  Virden,  at  the 
home  of  Titus  England;  and  at  Staunton,  at  the  home  of  Hosea  Snell.  Later, 
services  were  conducted  in  the  schoolhouse. 

The  first  camp  meeting  held  in  the  county  was  in  August,  1832,  in  the 
woods  belonging  to  James  Cave,  near  the  present  site  of  Palmyra.  The  whole 
neighborhood  gave  assistance  in  cutting  down  trees,  splitting  logs  for  seats 
and  making  a  stand  for  the  ministers.  The  meeting  began  on  Friday  and 
lasted  five  days,  the  services  being  conducted  by  the  Revs.  Peter  Cartwright, 
N.  Cloud  and  Owens. 

The  first  year  Rev.  Otwell  was  paid  the  meager  sum  of  $100,  which  was 
raised  by  the  mission.  The  second  year  he  was  paid  by  the  members,  $20.  Dur- 
ing the  second  year  he  was  engaged  a  part  of  the  time  in  merchandising,  in 
order  to  better  provide  for  himself  and  family.  In  1833  Elihu  Springer  was 
sent  to  this  charge,  Rev.  Peter  Cartwright  acting  as  presiding  elder  of  the 
circuit.  In  1834  E.  G.  Falkner  was  sent  here  as  pastor.  He  was  followed  in 
J835  by  Rev.  N.  P.  Heath,  who  in  turn  was  succeeded  by  J.  B.  Woodland,  who 
remained  through  1836  and  1837. 

In  1835  the  Methodist  society  built  its  first  church  and  in  1845  they  pur- 
chased a  church  building  of  the  Baptist  society. 

In  1836  a  S.unday  school  was  organized  with  Jarrett  Dugger  as  the  first 
superintendent. 

In  1852  Carlinville  was  made  a  station  and  from  that  time  until  1879  the 
pastors  who  served  the  church  were  Rev.  William  Stevenson,  William  S.  Pren- 
tice, Levi  C.  Pitner,  J.  H.  Moore,  W.  TVL.  Gruble,  J.  H.  Bargar,  George  Rut- 
ledge,  A.  S.  McCoy,  W.  F.  Short,  Preston  Hood,  James  Seaton,  G.  R.  S. 
McElfresh,  M.  D.  Hawes.  From  1879  until  the  present  time  (1911),  the  fol- 
lowing have  served:  1879-81,  W.  D.  Best;  1881-83,  W.  A.  Smith;  1885-89,  E. 
D.  Wilkin;  1890-93.  J.  B.  Wolfe;  1893-4,  George  Stevens;  1895,  F.  A.  Havig- 
horst;  1896-98,  M.  W.  Everhart;  1899-1903,  J.  A.  Lucas;  1904-06,  T.  A.  Can- 
ady;  1907-08,  F.  B.  Madden;  1909,  A.  B.  Peck,  who  is  the  present  incumbent. 

On  the  i7th  of  September,  1882,  the  present  church  building  was  dedicated. 
It  is  a  brick  structure,  located  at  the  corner  of  First  South  and  South  Broad 


206  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

streets  and  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $22,000.  A  pipe  organ  has  been  installed 
and  music  is  furnished  by  an  excellent  choir.  The  church  membership  is  325 
and  there  is  a  Sunday  school  enrollment  of  215  members.  In  the  summer  of 
1911  an  addition  of  sixteen  feet  was  made  at  the  south  end  of  the  building,  the 
organ  and  •  choir  loft  being  moved  back,  while  on  either  side  of  the  organ  a 
choir  room  and  pastor's  study  were  provided.  This  improvement  cost  the 
church  $3,000.  They  also  own  a  neat  and  modern  parsonage,  located  on  First 
South  street,  the  value  of  this  and  the  church  property  being  $28,000. 

METHODIST     CHURCH     OF     BUNKER     HILL. 

Rev.  Zimmerman,  a  Methodist  minister,  in  1841,  organized  a  class  of  five 
persons,  namely :  John  Rice,  Jonathan  Squires,  Mary  A.  Squires,  Abraham 
Cramp  and  Sarah  Cramp.  At  first  services  were  held  in  Jonathan  Squire's 
cabin  once  in  three  weeks  and  then  in  the  village  schoolhouse.  The  circuit 
embraced  a  Mr.  Deck's  house  near  Highland  and  Spanish  Needle.  Just  south 
of  the  town  hall,  in  1851,  the  first  church  building  was  erected,  which  was 
sold  to  the  town  in  1859.  It  was  during  the  pastorate  of  G.  W.  Waggoner 
that  a  revival  was  held,  which  added  to  the  church  seventy-five  members.  This 
large  addition  to  its  membership  made  a  larger  building  imperative.  The  de- 
mand was  met  in  the  building  of  a  brick  edifice  at  a  cost  of  $7,000.  The  early 
pastors  who  have  served  this  charge  are  as  follows :  J.  B.  Wollard,  James 

Meldrum,  -      Meldrum,  J.  A.  Scarritt.  Charles  Atkinson,  C.  J,  P.  Toole, 

Joseph  Erp,  J.  W.  Caldwell,  J.  B.  Corrington,  William  J.  Grant,  J.  W.  Lane, 
John  Van  Cleve,  J.  A.  Smith,  C.  B.  Holding,  J.  Gibson,  W.  S.  Sly,  W.  H. 
Tyner.  Since  1879  the  list  is  as  follows:  1880-1,  G.  W.  Farmer;  1881-2,  A. 
Ramson;  1882-3,  W.  Van  Cleve;  1883-4,  W.  H.  Tyner;  1884-6,  C.  P.  Wilson; 
1886-9,  J-  A-  Robinson;  1889-92,  J.  B.  House;  1892-4,  G.  W.  Scawthon; 
1894-5,  A.  H.  Anthony;  1895-7,  Edward  Barnes;  1897-9,  J.  P.  Jungling;  1899- 
1903,  H.  H.  Young;  1903-05,  E.  L.  Carson;  1905-06,  G.  H.  Hall;  1906-07,  C. 
B.  Besse;  1907-09,  F.  O.  Wilson;  1909-10,  W.  G.  Rector.  For  several  months 
the  church  was  then  without  a  pastor  but  in  April,  1911,  the  present  pastor, 
Rev.  F.  Piatt,  took  charge. 

The  present  membership  of  the  church  is  74.  The  value  of  the  church  prop- 
erty and  parsonage  is  about  $10,000. 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH,  VIRDEN. 

The  first  Methodist  church  in  Yirden  was  organized  in  1853.  That  same 
year  a  lot  was  donated  by  citizens,  upon  which  the  first  church  was  erected, 
Henry  Lowery  having  the  contract.  The  dedicatory  sermon  was  preached  by 
Rev.  J.  C.  Kimber,  February  n,  1854.  This  building  answered  the  purpose  of 
the  society  until  1874,  when  a  new  one  took  its  place,  which  was  dedicated  De- 
cember 6th  of  that  year,  by  Bishop  Thomas  Bowan.  Virden  charge  was  changed 
from  a  circuit  to  a  station  in  1857. 

The  present  magnificent  church  building  was  begun  July  5,  1910,  the  Ladies' 
Aid  Society  having  made  the  first  donation  of  $1,000.  With  this  as  a  nucleus. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  207 

the  work  of  construction  got  its  first  impetus.  The  structure  is  built  of  brick  and 
stone.  The  windows  are  of  cathedral  glass  and  all  of  them,  in  the  main  audi- 
torium, are  memorial  windows,  with  hand-painted  designs,  perpetuating  the 
memories  of  Austin  Landon,  William.  Emmerson,  A.  D.  Holliday,  Betsy  Kay 
Squires,  Ida  Lura  Hairgrove  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  C.  Brown.  The  institutional 
windows  are  in  the  Sunday  school  room  and  parlors  and  are :  Epworth  League, 
Sunday  school,  Ladies'  Aid  Society,  Woman's  Home  Missionary  Society, 
Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society.  The  Sanders-McDaniel  window  is  in  the 
Sunday  school  room  and  the  Wyatt  window  in  the  rest  room. 

A  beautifully  and  richly  toned  pipe  organ  was  installed  in  the  magnificent 
structure,  at  a  cost  of  $2,050.  It  was  presented  by  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society.  This 
new  building,  with  its  appointments,  cost  about  $30,000. 

The  following  ministers  have  served  this  charge :  1853-4,  Edward  Rutledge ; 
1854-5,  Rev.  Baker;  1855-6,  Rev.  Owens;  1856-7,  J.  Burgess;  1857-8,  R.  Hold- 
ing; 1858-9,  W.  D.  Lemon;  1859-61,  S.  H.  Dark;  1861-3,  J.  G.  Little;  1863-4, 
D.  Bardwick;  ^64-5,  C.  Myers;  1865-6,  H.  Wilson;  1866-9,  M  A.  Hewes;  1869- 
70,  C.  A.  Obenshain;  1870-1,  T.  J.  Bryant;  1871-2,  H.  S.  Parkhurst;  1873-5,  W. 
M.  Reed;  1875-8,  M.  M.  Davidson;  1878-80,  J.  Winterbottom ;  1880-3,  A-  C. 
Byerly;  1883-4,  G.  M.  Fortune;  1884-5,  M-  Auer;  1885-6,  J.  J.  Dugan;  1886-7, 
A.  L.  Morse;  1887-9,  D.  F.  Howe;  1889-91,  J.  B.  Colwell;  1891-2,  A.  D.  Moon; 
1892-3,  F.  A.  Havighorst;  1893-4,  G.  A.  Scott;  1894-5,  M.  S.  McCoy;  1895-6, 
J.  A.  Kumler;  1896-7,  W.  H.  Musgrove;  1897-1902,  T.  B.  Smith;  1902-06,  M.  M. 
Want ;  1906.  William  Brandon,  who  is  the  present  incumbent. 

The  new  building  was  dedicated  March  12,  1911,  Bishop  Robert  Mclntyre 
preaching  the  dedicatory  sermon.  The  dedicatory  services  extended  from  March 
8-17  and  the  program  for  each  day  was  an  elaborate  one. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH   OF  STAUNTON. 

The  present  Methodist  Episcopal  church  grew  out  of  the  Walshville  church 
many  years  ago.  It  first  held  services  in  a  small  building,  which  was  also  used  for 
school  purposes.  The  first  building  erected  by  the  society  for  church  purposes 
was  in  1852  or  1853.  Here  services  were  held  until  in  the  'gos,  when  the  present 
building  was  put  up.  Among  the  first  families  belonging  to  this  society  may  be 
mentioned  the  following:  Riplers,  Wagners,  Bentleys,  Lancasters,  Lovejoys, 
Howells  and  Molls. 

The  first  pastor  of  record  is  J.  W.  Noll,  who  was  here  in  1868.  He  was  fol- 
lowed by  D.  Coughlen,  who  remained  but  one  year.  Others  who  have  served  the 
church  to  the  present  time  are :  Samuel  Walker,  Asa  Snell,  S.  P.  Groves,  L.  C. 
English,  William  Van  Cleve,  R.  Z.  Fahs,  David  Moore,  B.  R.  Pierce,  A.  T.  Eaton. 
H.  H.  Keith,  J.  A.  Scarrett,  J.  E.  Burk,  E.  E.  Waggoner,  W.  R.  Bradley,  J.  T. 
Huffman,  J.  L.  Cunningham,  G.  M.  Webber,  J.  A.  Large,  J.  B.  Cummins,-  P.  R. 
Glotfelty  and  F.  O.  Wilson,  who  came  in  October.  1909,  and  is  the  present  pastor. 


208  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

The  church  is  a  neat  frame  building  and  the  church  property,  including  the 
parsonage,  is  valued  at  about  $5,000.  The  present  membership  is  140,  while  the 
Sunday  school  has  an  enrollment  of  200  members. 


METHODIST   EPISCOPAL  CHURCH,    MT.   OLIVE. 

This  society  was  formerly  a  part  of  Staunton  circuit,  but  at  the  session  of 
conference  in  1908  it  was  taken  from  that  charge  and  made  a  station.  The 
church  is  a  neat,  frame  building,  located  in  the  north  part  of  the  town,  and  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $1,500.  The  parsonage,  which  adjoins  the  church  property, 
was  completed  February  i,  1909.  The  present  membership  is  55,  with  an  average 
attendance  at  the  Sunday  school  of  100. 

J.  W.  Britton,  the  first  pastor  of  this  church,  came  September  21,  1908,  and 
remained  until  October  3,  1910,  when  his  successor,  Rev.  W.  L.  Rhein,  came  and 
is  still  in  charge. 

* 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH,  CHESTERFIELD. 

This  society  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  county,  organized  in  1831  by  Rev. 
S.  M.  Otwell.  A  house  of  worship  was  erected  in  1845.  Among  the  early  pastors 
may  be  mentioned  Revs.  Otwell,  Springer,  Blackwell,  Woolard,  Worthington,  N. 
P.  Heath,  Robins,  Chambers,  J.  B.  Corrington,  Faulkner,  Holliday,  B.  Newman, 
Cassady,  A.  Bradshavv,  William  Owen,  A.  Semple,  Sterrit  Baker,  I.  Emerson, 
Powers,  Paxton,  Meginnis,  R.  Honald,  Franklin,  Dillon,  T.  C.  Wolfe,  J.  B.  Meigs, 
Peter  Slagle,  P.  Drake,  G.  D.  Randall,  S.  T.  Hawkins,  A.  Sloan  and  William  R. 
Carr. 

GERMAN    METHODIST   EPISCOPAL  CHURCH,    MT.    OLIVE. 

This  society  was  organized  in  1879,  with  the  following  charter  members :  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  August  Schultz,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  Keiser,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  M. 
Ahrens,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Johnson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gerhart  Braje,  William 
Schultz,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  August  Schwaner,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carl  Hunzicker,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  F.  A.  Scheller,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ernst  Loescher,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gotlieb  Ger- 
ber,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Hessner,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ernst  Bauer,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fred- 
erick Aesmann,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  August  Rink  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frederick  Immer- 
thal. 

The  church  is  a  neat  frame  building,  erected  in  1880,  and  located  in  the  north 
part  of  the  town.  The  parsonage  adjoins  and  the  entire  property  is  valued  at 
$10,000.  A  pipe  organ  has  been  installed  in  the  church.  The  present  member- 
ship is  157,  while  the  Sunday  school  enrollment  is  115. 

The  list  of  pastors  from  the  time  of  organization  to  the  present  is :  John 
Wanner,  1879-81;  E.  W.  Simon,  1881-2;  M.  Schnierle,  1882-5;  Fred  Rock, 
1885-8;  C.  W.  Floreth,  1888-91;  William  Balcke,  1891-4;  A.  H.  Bueltemann, 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  IH'XKER  HILL 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  209 

1894-9;  H.  F.  Miller,   1899-1900;  G.  Bonn,  1900-01;  H.  Bau,  1901-04;  A.  H. 
Bueltemann,  1904-08;  David  S.  Wahl,  1908,  and  the  present  pastor. 

GERMAN    METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH,   BUNKER   HILL. 

This  society  was  organized  in  the  year  1858  and  in  1869  a  small  brick  church 
was  erected.  In  the  summer  of  191 1  the  interior  was  newly  decorated  and  un- 
derwent many  other  improvements,  which  adds  to  its  attractive  appearance.  It 
is  a  small  congregation,  having  but  about  65  members.  The  pastors  who  have 
served  from  the  organization  to  the  present  time  are :  G.  Zollman,  1858-9 ;  E.  H. 
Kriege,  1861-2;  Jacob  Miller,  1863-4;  W.  Wilkeing,  1864-6;  E.  H.  Kriege,  1868- 
71;  William  Schutz,  1871-2;  John  Kilmers,  1872-5;  Charles  Ehlert,  1875-8;  M. 
Schneirle,  1878-9;  John  Wanner,  1879-81 ;  E.  W.  Simon,  1881-4;  H.  F.  Koeneke, 
1884-7;  H.  Thomas,  1887-90;  William  Fiegenbaum,  1890-4;  H.  J.  Panwitt, 
1894-9;  G.  Bollner,  1899-1902;  F.  W.  Elger,  1902-06;  R.  C.  Luecke,  1906-07; 
W.  K.  M.  Schmidt,  1907-09;  Peter  Martin,  1909  and  the  present  incumbent. 

BAPTIST  CHURCH,    CARLINVILLE. 

On  Sunday,  May  15,  1910,  the  seventy-fifth  anniversary  of  the  founding  of 
the  Baptist  church  at  Carlinville  was  celebrated,  and  on  that  occasion  Hon.  C.  A. 
Walker  delivered  the  following  interesting  historic  address  relating  to  this 
church : 

It  will  be  well  before  entering  into  the  history  of  the  Baptist  church  in  Ma- 
coupin  county,  and  especially  in  Carlinville,  to  give  to  the  younger  members  of 
the  church  the  surroundings  and  people  who  were  then  active  in  church  work. 

During  the  year  1818,  the  territory  of  Illinois  was  organized  into  the  state 
of  Illinois,  and  thus  became  a  member  of  the  United  States  of  America,  and  in 
1829  the  county  of  Macoupin  was  organized  and  a  commission  appointed  to 
select  a  suitable  location  for  the  county  seat,  consisting  of  Seth  Hodges,  Joseph 
Borough,  and  John  Harris,  who  selected  and  located  the  present  site  of  our  city 
as  a  suitable  location  for  the  county  seat  and  named  it  Carlinville,  after  the  name 
of  Thomas  Carlin,  of  Greene  county,  Illinois,  who  afterwards  became  governor 
of  the  state;  and  in  1830  the  town  of  Carlinville  was  laid  out  and  made  the  county 
seat.  At  the  early  date  there  were  but  two  dwelling  houses  (and  they  were  log 
cabins)  in  the  village,  and  but  a  scattering  population  of  pioneers  had  at  that 
time  settled  in  the  county.  Among  them  were  John  Harris,  who,  desiring  to 
build  a  water  mill  on  the  Macoupin  creek,  was  obliged  to  have  a  blacksmith  to 
do  the  iron  work  on  the  mill.  •  Previous  to  that  time,  my  father  and  mother  with 
their  young  family  (1828)  removed  from  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  settled  on 
Cahokia  creek,  a  few  miles  east  of  Edwardsville,  Illinois,  and  being  a  gunsmith 
opened  a  shop  at  his  then  location,  to  pursue  his  trade  as  a  gunsmith.  Mr.  Harris 
learning  of  this,  went  down  to  my  father's  house  and  induced  him  to  remove  to 
Carlinville  for  the  purpose  of  doing  his  iron  work  on  the  mill.  This  was  in  the 
spring  of  1830.  There  was  not  at  that  time  a  church  organization  in  Carlinville 
and  I  have  doubts  if  there  was  one  in  the  county,  although  I  know  there  are 
claims  of  church  organization  at  an  earlier  date  in  other  parts  of  the  county. 

Vol.    1—14 


210  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

The  then  scattered  pioneers  who  had  settled  on  the  water  courses  in  the  county 
and  had  built  log  cabins  lived  many  miles  apart  and  when  a  preacher  happened 
along  in  a  neighborhood  he  would  stop  with  a  pioneer  and  consent  to  preach  on 
some  future  named  Sunday,  generally  at  the  house  where  he  was  stopping,  if 
notice  could  be  given  to  a  sufficient  number  of  pioneers  and  their  families  to 
form  a  congregation.  The  father  and  his  family  would  mount  horses  and  ride 
for  miles  notifying  the  families  of  the  neighborhood  of  the  time  and  place  where 
the  meeting  was  to  be  held,  and  when  the  time  came  for  the  preaching  every 
pioneer  and  his  family  within  ten  or  twenty  miles  of  the  place  would  be  notified, 
and  they  all,  if  possible,  attended  the  meetings,  especially  the  boys  and  girls  of  the 
neighborhood.  The  girls  often  walked  to  the  place  to  within  a  few  hundred 
yards  barefoot,  carrying  their  shoes  and  stockings  with  them,  and  would  stop 
and  put  them  on  at  that  point  and  then  "stockinged"  and  "shoed"  march  proudly 
up  to  the  cabin  where  the  meeting  was  being  held. 

When  my  father  moved  to  Carlinville,  there  were  but  two  cabins  in  the  village 
and  they  were  located,  one  on  the  block  of  lots  where  this  church  building  now 
stands  and  was  occupied  by  Major  Winchester  and  his  family,  he  being  the  first 
lawyer  in  Carlinville  and  had  just  moved  from  Edwardsville,  Illinois,  and  settled 
in  the  village.  It  was  on  the  spot  where  Mrs.  John  P.  Matthews  now  resides,  and 
the  other  cabin  stood  very  nearly  at  the  same  place  where  Hugh  Minton's  fine 
residence  is  now  located,  and  was  occupied  by  Ezekiel  Good  and  his  family. 
My  father,  with  the  aid  of  other  pioneers  who  volunteered,  built  the  third  cabin 
in  the  village.  It  was  located  where  the  Carlinville  Democrat  is  now  situated 
and  since  that  date  I  have  continuously  lived  in  Carlinville — a  long,  long  life  for 
anyone  in  one  place.  And  now,  having  brought  you  within  the  wilderness  wherein 
we  settled  and  acquainted  you  with  the  surroundings  and  the  people  who  were 
here,  let  us  proceed  to  the  history  of  the  church  organization  and  especially  of 
the  Baptist  church,  and  before  I  forget  it,  let  me  tell  you  that  the  first  funeral 
that  I  ever  attended  and  one  that  has  left  a  deep  and  never-to-be-forgotten  im- 
pression on  my  memory,  was  that  of  a  young  Sunday  school  scholar,  a  beautiful 
little  girl  whose  father  and  mother  lived  just  across  the  street  from  your  church 
where  we  are  now  assembled,  and  let  me  assure  you  that  where  this  church  now 
stands,  was  at  that  day  a  heavy  oak  and  hickory  forest.  When  the  day  came 
for  the  funeral  the  few  Sunday  school  children  were  dressed,  the  girls  in  white, 
and  the  boys  in  the  best  that  their  mothers  could  dress  them.  We  were,  of  course, 
all  barefoot,  as  we  had  no  shoes  to  wear,  our  fathers  having  no  money  to  buy  us 
shoes.  Oh,  that  I  could  remember  the  name  of  that  minister  and  the  words  that 
he  used  in  that  sermon  at  the  burial  of  the  little  girl  that  lay  in  the  small  walnut 
coffin,  dressed  in  white.  So  much  did  it  impress  me,  a  mere  boy,  I  can  to-night 
in  my  mind's  eye  see  her  as  she  lay  in  that  little  walnut  box.  I  think  that  was 
either  the  first  or  the  second  death  that  occurred  in  Carlinville. 

During  the  fall  of  1817,  John  Coop  moved  to  and  erected  a  log  cabin  on  what 
was  afterward  known  as  Coop's  Mound  in  this  county.  There  the  Rev.  William 
Jones,  a  Baptist  minister,  during  that  fall,  preached  the  first  Baptist  sermon  ever 
delivered  in  the  territory  constituting  Macoupin  county.  The  sermon  was 
preached  in  Coops'  cabin  to  a  small  number  of  pioneers  living  within  a  radius 
of  twenty  miles  of  the  Mound.  I  have  heard  that  at  that  meeting  a  Baptist  church 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  211 

was  organized.  1  do  not  think  this  possible,  as  there  were  not  a  sufficient  number 
of  settlers  in  that  part  of  the  county  from  which  a  church  could  have  been  or- 
ganized, and  especially  Baptist  pioneers.  The  great  Indian  trail  from  the  head- 
waters of  the  Wabash  river  to  the  Indian  post  of  Cahokia  ran  at  the  foot  of  the 
Mound  on  the  west  side,  and  after  my  father  settled  in  Carlinville,  was  used 
by  the  Indians  traveling  between  the  two  points.  I  have  often  discussed  with  the 
old  settlers  the  early  settlement  of  that  part  of  our  county  and  have  never  heard 
them  mention  the  organization  of  a  Baptist  church  at  or  near  the  Mound  at  so 
early  a  date. 

During  the  year  1821,  James  Lemon,  a  Baptist  minister,  preached  the  second 
sermon  in  the  log  cabin  erected  by  Telemachus  Camp,  one  and  a  half  miles 
southwest  of  Staunton.  The  Rev.  Lemon  belonged  to  a  noted  family  of  Baptist 
preachers  who  had  emigrated  into  the  then  territory  of  Illinois  from  the  south. 
My  mother  was  well  acquainted  with  the  Camp  family  in  North  Carolina.  After 
we  moved  to  Illinois  I  have  often  accompanied  her  on  her  visits  there.  One  of 
the  attractions  to  me  was  the  apple  and  peach  orchard  that  Mr.  Camp  had  on  his 
farm — the  only  orchard  then  in  central  Illinois.  The  old  farm  still  has  charms 
for  me,  as  one  of  the  sons  of  Telemachus  Camp  owns  and  resides  on  that  farm, 
and  no  better  Christian  gentleman  than  Peter  Camp  now  lives  in  our  county. 
He  is  a  true  and  devoted  Baptist,  as  was  his  father  before  him. 

If  I  have  not  been  misinformed,  the  Concord  Baptist  church  was  organized 
June  13,  1829.  I  have  some  doubts  as  to  the  organization  of  this  church  at  that 
early  date,  as  that  would  give  it  the  oldest  organized  date  in  the  county.  The 
church  stands  about  two  miles  south  and  east  of  Palmyra  and  was  organized 
by  the  Rev.  James  Solomon,  who  was  a  member  of  the  well  known  Solomon 
family  of  our  county,  a  family  of  noted  men  who  were  leaders  in  the  up-building 
of  the  county.  Their  father  was  a  large,  portly  man  of  more  than  usual  intelli- 
gence and  influence,  who  settled  near  where  the  town  of  Scottville  in  this  county 
is  now  located.  He  was  known  and  always  referred  to  as  "King"  Solomon.  It 
has,  since  its  organization,  been  a  very  strong  church  and  is  today  a  live,  active 
organization,  with  a  large  membership. 

May  10,  1835,  your  church  was  organized.  Elder  E.  Rogers  acted  as  moder- 
ator and  Andrew  Wilber  as  secretary.  Elder  E.  Dodson  was  your  first  pastor. 

In  1837,  a  great  upheaval  of  religious  enthusiasm  was  manifested  in  the  church 
under  the  able  preaching  of  the  Rev.  James  Lemon  and  others  who  assisted  him 
in  conducting  the  revival.  The  meetings  were  held  in  the  old  log  court  house 
situated  in  the  public  square,  at  which  about  sixty  parties  were  converted  and 
about  forty  of  the  converted  were  baptized  at  the  baptizing  pool  in  Borough's 
branch,  just  south  and  east  of  Carlinville.  That  carries  me  back  to  that  long, 
long  past  occurrence  in  my  boyhood  days,  for  be  assured  I  was  there  at  that  bap- 
tizing, as  were  all  the  other  tots  then  living  in  our  little  village.  The  pool  of 
water  afterwards  became  our  swimming  hole  where  many  of  us  learned  to  take 
care  of  ourselves  in  the  water.  This  small  stream  where  the  baptizing  took  place 
was  so  named  by  Joseph  Borough,  who  as  an  early  pioneer  had  settled  and  built 
a  log  cabin  where  the  old  Kennett  and  Hadley  Head  dwelling  now  stands. 

Another  reason  that  I  have  for  so  well  remembering  it  was  that  a  number  of 
our  playmates  were  then  and  there  baptized,  and  you  will  excuse  me  if  I  give 


212  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

from  my  memory  the  names  and  characteristics  of  some  of  the  leaders  and  newly 
converted  parties  who  took  part  in  that  meeting.  The  then  elders  of  the  church 
were :  Haskins  Trabue,  Samuel  Lair,  Tandy  Caulk,  Emanuel  Sutton,  who  were 
charter  members  of  the  church. 

Haskins  Trabue  was  a  Kentuckian  and  was  proud  of  it.  He  had  settled  on 
a  farm  now  owned  by  August  Hacke,  and  was  at  that  early  date  ready  and  will- 
ing to  aid  in  the  settling  of  the  county  by  emigration  from  his  native  state.  He 
had  a  numerous  family  of  boys  and  girls,  some  of  whose  names  as  I  remember 
then  were  Fenlon,  Joseph  and  Ben.  One  of  the  girls  married  Barnabus  Boggess 
and  lived  for  a  number  of  years  in  Girard  in  this  county.  I  understand  that  one 
of  his  grandsons  gave  a  talk  this  morning. 

Samuel  Lair  was  one  of  the  commissioners  in  the  organization  of  the  county. 
He  left  a  numerous  progeny  that  have  greatly  aided  in  the  building  up  of  our 
county. 

Tandy  Caulk,  a  son  of  Peggy  Caulk,  who  moved  from  near  Staunton  to  Car- 
linville  in  1832,  had  a  large  family  of  boys  and  girls.  Peggy  was  never  married. 

Edmond  and  Sarah  Sutton  gave  to  the  church  many  good  and  useful  mem- 
bers, who  were  converts  at  that  revival.  Some  of  their  names  were  as  follows: 
John  Sutton,  Jesse  Sutton,  Sarah  Sutton  and  Rebecca  Sutton,  who  were  all 
respectable  and  true  Christians  and  died  in  the  faith  as  faithful  members  of  the 
church. 

Martin  Ryan,  who  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  not  deeply  versed  in  Pro- 
fessor Murray's  book,  was  in  the  habit  of  using  big  words,  and  in  whom  the  boys 
of  the  town  took  great  delight  in  playing  jokes  on,  was  another  of  the  converts. 
He  had  left  our  village,  and  in  about  thirty  years  returned  on  a  visit.  In  a  con- 
versation with  Oliver  Hall  about  the  history  of  the  people  who  had  lived  here 
when  he  was  a  resident,  my  name  was  mentioned  by  Oliver,  giving  him  my  his- 
tory as  a  lawyer,  and  as  Oliver  was  always  a  good  friend  of  mine,  I  suspect  he 
was  putting  up  my  ability  pretty  strongly.  It  seemed  to  surprise  Ryan  and  he 
turned  to  Oliver  and  said,  "Why,  Oliver,  that  can't  be  true.  I  tell  you  that  Gus 
Walker  could  have  not  made  an  able  lawyer,  as  he  was  one  of  the  most  uncom- 
promising boys  in  the  town  and  the  worst  one  of  all  of  them."  Ryan  was  a  pro- 
fessed convert  at  that  meeting,  but  fell  from  grace  when  we  boys  were  after 
him  in  his  sleigh  with  his  girl.  We  had  cow  bells,  tin  horns  and  other  instruments 
of  noise.  As  I  now  recollect,  his  horse  ran  away  and  threw  him  and  his  girl  out 
in  a  snow  bank. 

Our  first  schoolteacher  was  a  Mr.  Wilson,  who  taught  the  first  school  in  Car- 
linville.  He  taught  in  the  old  log  court  house.  He  was  an  eastern  man  and  a 
very  hard  taskmaster  as  we  boys  thought,  who,  not  from  choice,  were  his  pupils. 
He  was  another  of  the  converts  and  proved  a  great  help  in  building  up  your 
church. 

Mrs.  Ruth  McWhorter  was  another  of  the  converts,  in  whose  after  history 
we  will  go  no  further. 

Now  we  will  come  to  the  Walker  family  (not  related  to  our  family)  but  say- 
ing the  least  for  them  were  characteristic  pioneers.  James  R.  Walker  was  the 
head  of  the  family  if  it  had  not  been  that  Delilah,  his  wife,  was  a  member  of 
the  family.  They  had  numerous  progeny,  of  whom  Nancy  Ann  was  a  member. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  213 

She  married  Alex  Glessner  and  when  put  under  the  water  by  the  minister  was 
kept  under  long  enough  to  wash  away  all  her  sins  as  was  said  by  the  on-lookers. 
'Another  was  Mary,  who,  in  boasting  of  a  new  pair  of  shoes,  said  they  were  im- 
ported for  her,  and  were  the  only  pair  of  "Magator"  ever  brought  to  Carlin- 
ville.  She  went  by  the  name  of  "Magators"  ever  afterward.  She  married  a  very 
good  man. 

Little  Johnny  Hull  and  his  wife,  Sarah,  were  noted  members  who  were  bap- 
tized at  that  baptizing. 

Harbird  Wetherford  and  wife  joined  the  church  and  were  baptized  at  that 
revival.  He  belonged  to  the  large  and  influential  family  of  Wetherfords  who 
had  settled  as  pioneers  in  and  around  Carlinville  at  an  early  day.  They  (Har- 
bird and  wife)  had  two  of  the  prettiest  girls  that  John  Hamilton  or  I  had  ever 
found  up  to  that  date.  "Dorind"  and  "Lizzie"  were  their  names.  Well,  of 
course,  we  both  found  prettier  ones  afterward. 

In  those  pioneer  days  your  church  and  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  had 
the  only  church  organizations  in  the  town,  and  both  were  very  active  in  church 
work.  The  Rev.  Stith  M.  Otwell  was  a  splendid  specimen  of  true  manhood.  He 
was  tall  and  inclined  to  be  slim  at  that  date.  He  was  possessed  of  keen,  black 
eyes,  black  hair,  dressed  well  and  was  active  and  gentlemanly  in  all  his  dealings 
with  the  pioneers,  and  with  all  these  advantages,  besides  having  a  good  education, 
was  very  popular  with  the  people  of  our  town  and  county.  Under  such  condi- 
tions the  inevitable  happened.  Quite  a  rivalry  soon  manifested  itself  as  to 
which  of  the  organizations  should  have  the  larger  membership,  and  in  such  rivalry 
great  good  was  accomplished  in  the  furtherance  of  Christianity  and  the  morals 
of  the  people.  In  1831  the  Rev.  Otwell  organized  the  first  Methodist  church  in 
the  village  and  preached  the  first  sermon  in  the  log  cabin  of  Rev.  English,  in 
which,  he,  English,  was  keeping  a  tavern.  Bill  and  High  English  were  his  sons, 
and  had  gained  a  reputation  as  "bad  ones." 

The  church  organizations  of  that  day  were  composed  of  earnest  devoted  fol- 
lowers of  the  "Man  of.  Nazareth,"  the  Lowly  Jesus.  The  preaching  as  a  gen- 
eral thing  was  done  by  devoted  Christian  ministers,  without  money  or  price. 
The  leaders  of  the  church  organization  were  fervent  workers  in  God's  vineyard 
and  talked  and  sang  with  a  will  not  known  at  the  present  day.  When  assembled 
in  their  church  for  the  purpose  of  worship  the  congregation  would  be  enthused 
when  such  brothers  as  old  John  Andrews,  an  Englishman,  would  start  up  the 
hymn  "The  Old  Ship  Zion  is  About  to  Sail,"  or  the  portly  brother  Jarrett  Bug- 
ger would  break  in  with 

"Come  thou  font  of  every  blessing, 

Tune  my  heart  to  sing  thy  grace, 
Streams  of  mercy  never  ceasing 

Call  for  songs  of  loudest  praise ;"  or 
"On  Jordan's  stormy  banks  I  stand 

And  cast  a  wistful  eye 
To  Canaan's  fair  and  happy  land 

Where  my  possessions  lie." 


214  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

The  entire  congregation  would  join  in  and  in  loud  voice  almost  raise  the  roof 
of  the  church  or  cabin  in  which  they  were  worshiping.  It  was  not  the  present 
kind  of  fashionable  church  music  that  we  pay  for  today. 

The  first  organ  that  was  placed  in  the  church  in  our  town  had  not  been  her- 
alded before  the  services  commenced  and  when  the  hymn  was  given  out  and  the 
organ  began  to  play,  a  number  of  the  old  and  stanch  members  got  up  and  marched 
out  of  the  church,  declaring  it  was  the  devil's  doing  and  that  they  would  no 
longer  stay  and  hear  the  music. 

The  Rev.  Stith  M.  Otwell  became  the  pastor  of  the  Methodist  church  and 
held  services  in  the  old  log  court  house  and  in  1836  a  revival  was  conducted  by 
that  church  led  by  the  Rev.  Otwell  in  the  log  court  house,  at  which  I  as  dis- 
tinctly remember  seeing  my  father  and  mother  get  up  from  their  seats  and 
walk  up  and  kneel  down  at  the  mourner's  bench  as  I  remember  any  other  in- 
cident in  my  long  life.  And  now  looking  back  at  that  long  recognition  of  the 
obligations  of  man  to  God  I  rejoice  in  their  action. 

From  the  organization  of  the  church  to  the  present  time,  the  following  pastors 
have  served  the  church:  1881-7,  B.  B.  Hamilton;  March  14,  1887 — December 
31,  1887,  T.  M.  Metcalf;  December  31,  1887-88,  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by 
H.  L.  Derr  and  a  part  of  the  year  1889  it  was  supplied  by  A.  L.  Griffith ;  1890- 
92,  H.  S.  Black;  1892-96,  J.  W.  Primm;  1896-97,  C.  A.  Rice;  1897-1900,  T.  H. 
Marsh ;  1900-07,  O.  E.  Moffet ;  1907,  A.  H.  Rhodes,  who  is  the  present  incum- 
bent, 1911. 

BRIGHTON    BAPTIST    CHURCH. 

The  Brighton  Baptist  church  was  organized  November  26,  1833,  by  Elders 
Elijah  Dodson  and  Alvin  Bailey,  with  eleven  members,  Joseph  Richardson,  dea- 
con and  clerk.  The  early  pastors  and  supplies  were  Elders  E.  R.  Fort,  Amos 
Dodge,  Z.  B.  Newman,  Ebenezer  Rogers,  H.  T.  Chitten,  William  Roberts,  O.  L. 
Barber,  John  E.  Moore,  Jacob  V.  Hopper,  Joel  Terry,  Rev.  Manning,  Herman 
S.  Lowe,  Frank  M.  Ellis,  A.  L.  Cole,  P.  Erving  and  others. 

BUNKER  HILL  BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

This  church  was  organized,  January  9,  1841,  in  the  presence  of  the  following 
ministers:  Amos  Dodge,  R.  Kimball,  William  H.  Briggs  and  John  M.  Peck. 
The  original  members  were  Daniel  Rice,  Avolin  Church,  James  M.  Cooper,  Noah 
H.  Flanagan,  Charles  Johnson,  Johnson  McGilvary,  Willis  McGilvary,  David 
P.  Kelsey,  Sarah  Wright,  Maria  Church,  Elizabeth  Cooper.  Maria  S.  Flanagan, 
Abigail  R.  Johnson,  Elizabeth  S.  Flanagan,  Abigail  Pettingill,  Christiana  McGil- 
vary, Catherine  McGilvary,  Noah  H.  Church.  The  first  pastor  was  William  H. 
Briggs.  The  Baptists  joined  with  the  Congregationalists  and  built  a  church  in 
1849,  i°  which  both  congregations  worshipped  until  1854,  when  the  Baptists 
built  an  edifice  of  their  own.  In  1858  the  church  was  organized  under  the  name 
of  the  Berean  Baptist  church  of  Bunker  Hill.  The  old  church  had  in  recent  years 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  215 

been  remodeled  and  the  value  of  the  property,  including  the  parsonage  is  about 
$5,500.     The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  T.  C.  Coffey. 

BAPTIST  CHURCH    OF  GIRARD. 

The  Baptist  church  of  Girard,  Illinois,  was  organized  March  17  and  18, 
1855,  with  a  membership  of  fourteen.  The  first  pastorate  of  the  church  seems 
to  be  somewhat  in  doubt.  The  minutes,  which  are  preserved,  do  not  indicate  tha't 
a  regular  pastor  was  called  until  a  year  and  a  half  after  its  organization.  How- 
ever among  those  constituting  the  council  at  the  organization  of  the  church  was 
Rev.  James  Harvey,  who,  it  seems,  served  the  church  as  moderator  during  this 
period  and  to  the  minutes  of  a  meeting  held  August  18,  1855,  ms  name  is  signed 
as  pastor.  Whether  during  that  time  he  was  the  regularly  settled  pastor  of  the 
church  cannot  be  determined  by  the  records.  So  far  as  the  first  minutes  show, 
the  first  regularly  called  pastor  of  the  church  was  Rev.  M.  V.  Kitzmiller,  who 
with  a  number  of  others,  moved  to  Girard  from  Tennessee  in  the  fall  of  1856. 
His  pastorate  began  November  8th  of  that  year  and  continued  until  September, 
1865 — a  period  of  almost  nine  years.  Having  the  care  of  the  church  practically 
from  its  inception,  Rev.  Kitzmiller  was  able  to  mold  it  largely  after  his  concep- 
tion of  what  a  church  ought  to  be.  It  was  the  period  of  foundation  laying  in 
doctrine  and  in  all  else  that  makes  for  a  virile  body  of  Christ.  And  the  after 
success  and  prosperity  of  the  church  was  due  largely  to  the  good  work  done 
during  this  period.  The  membership  grew  steadily  during  this  pastorate  until 
it  numbered  a  hundred  or  more. 

Rev.  Kitzmiller  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  M.  Wells,  who  was  called  in  Sep- 
tember, 1865.  He  remained  for  one  year,  during  which  time  the  church  com- 
pleted and  occupied  its  new  house  of  worship.  Prior  to  that  time  the  church  had 
held  services  in  the  union  meeting  house,  generally  known  as  the  old  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  church.  The  movement  to  secure  a  building  of  their  own  had 
begun  four  or  five  years  previously,  but  does  not  seem  to  have  taken  definite 
shape  until  1865,  when  the  construction  of  the  building  was  begun.  This  was  a 
substantial  and  commodious  house  of  worship,  reflecting  great  credit  upon  the 
enterprise  and  generosity  of  the  church  at  that  time.  It  was  dedicated  in  July, 
1866.  This  building  was  used  until  April,  1902. 

In  1866  the  Sunday  school  was  organized,  the  average  attendance  being  sixty. 

With  the  beginning  of  the  year  1868,  Rev.  M.  V.  Kitzmiller  was  recalled  for 
half  time  service.  This  second  pastorate  covered  a  period  of  four  years,  and  was 
followed  by  the  shortest  pastorate  in  the  history  of  the  church,  Rev.  A.  H.  Scott, 
serving  for  six  months.  He  was  succeeded  in  May,  1873,  by  Rev.  B.  F.  Humph- 
rey, who  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Scott,  who  returned  and  remained  one  year.  At 
the  end  of  that  time  Rev.  M.  V.  Kitzmiller  was  recalled  to  the  pastorate,  his  ser- 
vice beginning  in  September,  1875.  This  proved  to  be  the  longest  pastorate  in  the 
history  of  the  church,  for  he  continued  until  his  retirement  from  the  ministry,  in 
January,  1889.  In  many  respects  the  service  Rev.  Kitzmiller  rendered  this 
church  and  the  sacrifices  he  made  for  it,  were  phenomenal,  having  few  parallels 
in  the  Baptist  history  of  the  state. 


216  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Rev.  Kitzmiller  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  C.  Combes,  who  served  as  a  supply 
during  a  part  of  the  year  1888.  In  March,  1889,  Rev.  J.  W.  Hawkins  became 
pastor  and  after  a  service  of  less  than  one  year,  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  A.  ]. 
Donaldson,  who  remained  four  years.  He  was  followed,  in  June,  1894,  by  Rev. 
B.  W.  Wiseman.  Upon  the  resignation  of  Rev.  Wiseman  in  September,  1896, 
the  services  of  Dr.  A.  K.  DeBlois,  president  of  Shurtleff  College,  were  secured. 
He  served  until  May,  1897,  and  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  J.  R.  Day,  who,  after  serv- 
ing one  year,  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  T.  J.  Giblett,  who  came  in  September,  1898. 
He  served  the  church  three  years  and  was  succeeded,  December  i,  1901,  by  Rev. 
A.  H.  Harnly. 

In  January,  1902,  the  need  of  improved  facilities  for  aggressive  work  began 
to  be  seriously  agitated,  and  the  church  resolved  to  arise  and  build.  Suitable  lots 
were  purchased,  the  church  building  was  moved,  a  lecture  room  and  other  im- 
provements added  and  a  parsonage  erected,  all  at  a  cost  of  about  $8,000.  The 
entire  cost  having  been  previously  provided  for,  the  church  was  dedicated  Sep- 
tember 20,  1902,  Dr.  Harvey  preaching  the  dedicatory  sermon  and  President 
Stanley  A.  McKay  preaching  at  night. 

The  records  do  not  make  it  possible  to  determine  the  exact  growth  of  the 
church  during  any  particular  period  of  its  history.  It  would  appear  that  there 
was  no  phenomenal  growth  at  any  time,  but  rather  a  constant,  healthy  growth 
from  the  beginning.  Since  its  organization  the  church  has  received  more  than 
eight  hundred  members.  Many  of  these  have  closed  their  labors  here  and  have 
gone  to  join  the  church  triumphant.  Others  have  moved  away  and  are  now 
scattered  over  various  sections  of  the  country.  The  present  membership  is  340. 

The  list  of  pastors  and  their  terms  of  service  are  as  follows :  M.  V.  Kitzmillen 
1856-65;  J.  M.  Wells,  1865-66;  J.  Bulkley,  1866-67;  M.  V.  Kitzmiller,  1867-72; 

A.  H.  Scott,  six  months  in  1872;  B.  F.  Humphrey,  1873-74;  A.  H.  Scott,  1874-75; 
M.  V.  Kitzmiller,  1875-89;  J.  H.  Hawkins,  1889-90;  A.  J.  Donaldson,  1890-94; 

B.  W.  Wiseman,  1894-96;  A.  K.  DeBlois,  1896-97;  J.  E.  Day,  1897-98;  T.  J. 
Giblett,   1898-1901 ;  A.  H.  Harnly.  came  in  1901   and  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Rumsey,  who  is  the  present  pastor. 

FIRST   BAPTIST   CHURCH,   VIRDEN. 

This  society  was  organized  April  30,  1854,  with  seventeen  charter  members, 
as  follows:  W.  W.  and  Sophia  A.  Cox,  Robert  and  Mary  Hobson,  Orin  and 
Armanella  Chaffee,  J.  E.  and  Amanda  Walker,  Alexander  and  Melvina  Hord, 

C.  T.,  Sophia  E.  G.  and  M.  J.  Sage,  J.  C.  and  Minerva  Harvey,  Daniel  Wise  and 
A.  Malsbury.     The  first  sermon  was  preached  in  the  old  Methodist  church,  Rev. 
Justice  Buckley  officiating. 

In  1855  a  small  church  was  erected  and  on  the  loth  of  November  of  that 
year  Rev.  J.  B.  Jackson  was  sent  as  the  first  pastor  of  the  church,  the  building 
being  dedicated  on  the  following  day,  November  n,  1855.  Rev.  Jackson  min- 
istered to  this  congregation  until  June  23,  1860.  He  was  succeeded  by  F.  M. 
Ellis,  who  came  in  the  fall  of  1861  and  remained  until  1863,  when,  in  September 
of  that  year  Rev.  John  Sawyer  became  pastor  of  the  church.  The  latter  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  W.  C.  F.  Hempstead,  who,  after  serving  for  more  than  three 


PUBLIC  SCHOOL  AND  CHURCHES  OF  VIRDEN* 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIX  COUNTY  217 

years,  resigned  July  25,  1868,  and  in  September  of  the  same  year  Rev.  Gray 
came  as  supply,  remaining  until  February  27,  1869.  Rev.  H.  M.  Carr  came  in 
December  of  that  year,  remaining  as  pastor  for  five  years.  From  December, 
1874,  until  April  28,  1875,  the  church  was  without  a  pastor  and  then  came  Rev. 

E.  E.  Bayliss,  who  remained  until  October,  1876,  when  he  resigned.     In  Decem- 
ber of  that  year  Rev.  T.  F.  Borchers  was  called  to  the  pastorate  and  remained 
until  March,  1879,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of  ill  health.     Rev.  J.  L.   M. 
Young  was  called  September  2,  1879,  and  remained  until  August  7,  1881.     He 
was  followed  by  Rev.  H.  G.  James,  who  came  in  March,  1882,  but  remained  for 
only  five  months.    From  that  time  to  the  present  the  regular  pastors  have  been  as 
follows:    1883-87,  D.  T.  Morrell;  1887-89,  D.  L.  McBride;  1890,  J.  F.  Foley, 
who  acted  as  a  supply  until  1892;  from  the  summer  of  1892  until  1893,  A.  J.  Col- 
well;  1893-95,  J.  M.  Titterington ;  from  that  time  until  1896  the  church  was  with- 
out a  regular  pastor,  when  C.  W.  Webb  came,  remaining  until  1899;  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  year  1900  J.  E.  Reynolds  was  called  and  1901  was  followed  by  B. 

F.  Duncan,  who  remained  until  his  death  in  1904.     In  1905-06  L.  W.  Sloan  was 
the  pastor  and  in  February,  1907,  J.  L.  Watson  came  but  remained  for  only  a 
brief  period,  and  was  succeeded  in  that  year  by  T.  C.  Coffey,  who  served  until 
1911   and  in   May  of   the  latter  year  O.  W.   Shields  came  and  is  the  present 
incumbent. 

The  church  membership  having  increased  to  such  an  extent  that  the  old  build- 
ing was  inadequate,  the  structure  was  moved  away  and  replaced  by  a  larger  and 
more  modern  structure  in  1899.  In  1910  extensive  improvements  were  made,  the 
interior  being  handsomely  decorated,  while  in  1911  the  building  was  newly 
painted  on  the  outside.  It  is  centrally  located  one  block  west  of  the  public  square. 
The  present  membership  is  287. 

In  1855  James  Hall  donated  to  the  church  a  parsonage,  which  is  still  owned 
by  the  congregation  but  has  been  added  to  and  repaired  since  that  time.  The 
church  also  owns  a  cottage,  which  it  rents.  The  value  of  the  church  property, 
including  parsonage  and  cottage  is  $9,500. 

BAPTIST   CHURCH,   STAUNTON. 

The  Baptist  church  at  this  point  has  been  established  for  over  a  half  century 
but  is  now  a  mission.  The  church  building  itself,  a  brick  structure,  has  been 
built  at  least  fifty  years.  The  membership  at  this  time  is  about  seventy-five, 
and  its  pastor,  J.  M.  Gwinn,  a  very  able  and  energetic  divine,  is  confident  of 
adding  to  its  strength.  He  also  ministers  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  church 
at  Gillespie.  A  more  extended  history  of  this  church  could  be  given  if  the 
records  of  the  church  were  available,  but  unfortunately,  they  could  not  be  secured 
for  the  purpose. 

PROTESTANT    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 

There  are  four  Protestant  Episcopal  churches  in  Macoupin  county — St. 
Paul's,  Carlinville ;  Christ  church,  Bunker  Hill ;  St.  Peter's  Chesterfield ;  and  St. 
John's,  Gillespie. 


218  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

As  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained,  the  first  service  in  the  Episcopal  church,  held 
in  the  county  was  by  Rev.  F.  Southgate,  in  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Carlin- 
ville,  in  the  year  1843.  He  was  a  brother  of  Bishop  Southgate,  of  New  York, 
at  one  time  missionary  to  Constantinople.  Rev.  F.  Southgate  was  traveling 
through  the  county,  and  happening  to  be  in  Carlinville  over  Sunday,  was  re- 
quested by  the  two  or  three  Episcopalians  then  living  in  the  place,  to  officiate 
at  a  service.  It  is  related  that  he  hurriedly  conducted  the  service  and  then 
taking  his  hat,  most  unceremoniously  left  the  house  and  returned  to  the  hotel, 
without  delivering  any  sermon  or  speaking  any  word  of  instruction  or  exhorta- 
tion, very  greatly  to  the  disappointment  and  mortification  of  Messrs.  Enoch  Wall, 
A.  McKim  DuBois  and  others  who  had  solicited  his  service.  It  is  no  wonder 
that  under  such  circumstances  the  chruch  grew  so  slowly  and  that  the  impressions 
made  concerning  it  were  not  favorable. 

In  1844  or  1845,  Rt-  RCV-  Philander  Chase,  of  Illinois,  in  his  journeyings 
through  the  state,  officiated  on  one  or  two  occasions  in  Chesterfield  and  Carlin- 
ville, but  there  was  no  regular  minister  nor  were  there  any  regular  services  until 
1849,  when  the  Rev.  John  Loyd  Johnston  was  sent  by  Bishop  Chase  to  officiate 
in  these  two  places,  which  he  had  himself  visited,  and  here  in  the  same  year 
the  present  parishes  were  organized. 

The  first  congregation  in  the  county  may  be  considered  that  of  St.  Peter's  at 
Chesterfield.  As  the  Episcopal  church  in  the  United  States  is  derived  from  the 
ancient  church  of  England,  and  so  traces  its  descent  from  the  apostles  and  the 
primitive  church,  through  the  church  of  England,  thus  it  came  to  pass  that  the 
English  people  in  and  about  Chesterfield  were  the  first  to  receive  and  encourage 
the  ministration  of  this  church,  being  members  of  it  in  England,  and  accord- 
ingly, in  Chesterfield,  the  first  organization  was  formed. 

Rev.  Mr.  Johnston  remained  but  a  short  time,  about  nine  months,  baptizing, 
however,  many  persons  who  are  now  heads  of  families.  He  was  an  earnest  and 
self  sacrificing  man,  worthy  of  all  honor.  When  he  left  here,  he  went  south  and 
died  in  1851  or  1852  in  Mississippi,  of  yellow  fever.  He  had  gone  south  against 
the  remonstrances  of  his  friends,  to  aid  the  sick  and  suffering  in  one  of  those 
dreadful  epidemics. 

So  far  as  is  known  there  were  no  services  of  this  church  held  in  the  county 
from  1849  until  tne  spring  of  1856,  when  Rev.  David  Walker  Dresser,  then  a 
deacon  just  ordained,  was  sent  to  take  charge  at  Chesterfield,  in  connection  with 
Waverly,  Morgan  county,  as  had  been  the  case  with  Rev.  Johnston,  before  him. 

The  Rev.  Dresser  may  be  said  to  be  the  patriarch  of  the  Episcopal  church  in 
the  county.  His  first  service  in  Chesterfield  was  held  in  the  upper  room  of 
the  schoolhouse.  In  1858-9  the  church  building  was  erected  on  a  lot  imme- 
diately opposite  the  schoolhouse,  at  a  cost  of  about  $2,000,  and  was  consecrated 
April  28,  1861,  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Whitehouse,  successor  to  Bishop  Chase. 

In  the  fall  of  1866,  Rev.  Robert  Trewartha  became  pastor,  remaining  in 
charge  only  until  the  following  spring.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Joseph  Ad- 
derly  from  the  fall  of  1867  until  some  time  during  the  year  1871.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  George  W.  Stickney,  who  had  charge  in  connection  with  Carroll- 
ton,  Greene  county,  for  six  months  in  1872. 


r-r  / 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  219 

In  October,  1872,  Rev.  Dresser  again  took  charge  of  St.  Peter's  at  Chester- 
field, in  connection  with  St.  Paul's  at  Carlinville. 

St.  Paul's  church  at  Carlinville  was  organized  in  1849,  about  the  same  time 
as  the  parish  at  Chesterfield  and  under  the  same  minister. 

After  the  removal  of  Rev.  Johnston  there  were  no  services  until  the  fall  of 
1857,  when  Rev.  D.  W.  Dresser,  having  given  up  Waverly,  took  charge  of  Carlin- 
ville in  connection  with  Chesterfield.  His  first  service  in  Carlinville  was  held  in 
a  schoolhouse  which  stood  where  the  public  school  now  stands  and  which  was 
later  destroyed  by  fire.  This  schoolhouse  was  used  as  a  place  of  worship  for 
several  years  and  subsequently  the  congregation  occupied  the  old  Methodist 
church,  which  adjoined  the  school  building.  St.  Paul's  church  was  erected  in 
1865-6,  on  lots  purchased  many  years  previously  by  Samuel  Welton,  A.  McKim 
Dubois,  Thomas  Shutt  and  Drs.  Brock  and  Cook.  The  church  was  completed  in 
1875  at  a  cost  of  about  $5,000.  In  1868  the  rectory  was  built. 

Rev.  D.  W.  Dresser,  of  Carlinville,  by  invitation,  visited  Gillespie  and 
officiated  at  a  service  conducted  in  the  public  school  building,  January  23,  1860. 
Prior  to  that  date,  so  far  as  is  known,  the  only  Episcopal  service  that  had  been 
held  in  Gillespie  was  by  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Y.  McMasters,  of  Alton,  who  happened  to 
be  visiting  at  this  place.  For  several  years  Rev.  Dresser  had  charge  of  this  point 
as  a  missionary  station,  in  addition  to  his  other  work,  officiating  usually  on  a 
week  day  about  once  a  month  until  1864,  when  Rev.  Thomas  W.  Mitchell,  a 
native  of  Scotland,  began  ministrations  in  connection  with  Bunker  Hill.  St. 
John's  parish  was  organized  in  1863  and  the  church  built  during  the  same  year. 
The  corner  stone  was  laid,  June  26,  1863,  by  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Whitehouse. 

Rev.  Mitchell  removed  in  1865  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  John  Portmess, 
who  also  had  charge  at  Bunker  Hill  but  remained  for  only  a  brief  period.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Adrian  Zimmerman,  who  also  remained  but  a  short  time. 
Rev.  Phillip  A.  Johnson  began  ministrations  here  in  1875.  residing  in  Bunker 
Hill,  and  devoting  to  Gillespie  one  Sunday  in  each  month. 

Christ  church  at  Bunker  Hill  was  organized  in  1865.  Prior  to  this  time  ser- 
vices were  held  by  Rev.  Dresser  of  Carlinville,  in  some  church  or  schoolhouse. 
It  is  believed  that  the  first  service  was  conducted  by  him  in  1862  in  the  Congre- 
gational church.  In  1864  Rev.  Mitchell  came  to  take  charge  here  and  at  Gilles- 
pie. The  latter  resigned  in  September,  1865,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Port- 
mess,  who  remained  one  year.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  Zimmerman,  who  re- 
mained six  months  during  the  year  1868,  while  Rev.  Mr.  Johnston  came  and  after 
serving  the  church  for  four  years,  resigned  July  i,  1879.  The  church  was  erected 
in  1875-6,  at  a  cost  of  $3,500,  which  included  the  cost  of  the  lot. 

All  the  Episcopal  churches  in  the  county  are  built  after  the  Gothic  style  of 
architecture. 

ADDENDA  BY  PROFESSOR  J.  D.  CONLEY. 

The  Rev.  D.  W.  Dresser,  by  whom  the  above  was  written,  commenced  his 
work  in  Carlinville  when  but  a  deacon  in  the  church  and  still  a  young  man.  He 
remained  in  charge  here  for  twenty  years,  when  he  accepted  a  call  from  the 
church  at  Champaign,  Illinois.  His  letter  of  resignation,  which  illustrates  his 
noble  character,  was  as  follows:  "Carlinville,  Illinois,  December  I,  1882.  Dear 


220  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Brethren : — I  beg  leave  to  resign  my  charge  as  rector  of  St.  Paul's  church  in 
this  city.ljdjd  resignation  to  take  effect  with  the  close  of  Sunday  next,  Decem- 
ber 3,  1882.  I  take  this  step  with  many  regrets,  but  with  a  firm  persuasion  that 
it  is  best  under  all  the  circumstances,  and  I  especially  request  that  you  will 
signify  your  acceptance  of  my  resignation  at  your  earliest  convenience.  With 
the  kindest  regards  to  yourselves  personally  and  with  the  most  sincere  prayers 
for  the  prosperity  of  the  parish,  both  in  things  temporal  and  spiritual,  I  am 
faithfully  and  affectionately  yours,  D.  W.  Dresser." 

The  vestry  at  this  time  consisted  of  Dr.  M.  H.  Head,  A.  McKim  Dubois, 
Thomas  R.  McKee,  S.  F.  Steidley  and  J.  D.  Conley.  The  true  love  and  Chris- 
tian spirit  shown  in  the  wording  of  this  resignation  illustrates  plainly  his  noble 
character  and  always  stamped  him  as  one  of  the  truest  and  one  of  the  most 
consistent  of  our  fellow  citizens.  The  writer  of  this  article  was  licensed  as  lay 
reader  by  Bishop  Seymour,  and  assisted  Rev.  Dresser  in  his  work  at  Carlin- 
ville,  also  at  Chesterfield,  for  several  years,  the  latter  having  charge  at  both 
places.  Hence,  the  writer  was  very  intimate  with  him,  and  being  a  member 
of  the  vestry  he  had  better  opportunity  to  hear  expressions  of  admiration  from 
the  people  of  the  church  and  members  of  the  community  outside  of  the  church 
than  did  Mr.  Dresser  himself.  Chesterfield  was  stronger  as  a  church  town  than 
Carlinville,  there  being  quite  a  number  of  prominent  English  farmers  there  who 
were  regular  in  attendance  at  church  and  contributed  to  its  support. 

April  1 6,  1882,  the  vestry  extended  a  call  to  Rev.  Jesse  Higgins,  a  young 
man  just  admitted  to  the  ministry.  He  was  to  hold  services  half  of  the  time 
and  receive  as  a  compensation  $300  a  year,  and  after  March  i,  1884,  was  to 
have  the  use  of  the  rectory,  which  had  been  rented  after  Mr.  Dresser's  resigna- 
tion. Rev.  Higgins  resigned,  December  29,  1883. 

The  Episcopalians  of  Carlinville  are  more  indebted  to  Rev.  Dresser  than 
to  any  one  else  for  the  growth  of  the  church  up  to  1883.  Of  the  laymen  to 
whom  credit  should  be  given  for  the  founding  and  growth  of  the  church  at 
Carlinville  may  be  mentioned  A.  McKim  Dubois,  a  very  devout  and  earnest 
churchman  who  did  more  financially  than  any  other  member,  and  who  was  one 
of  the  most  exemplary  members  in  the  history  of  the  church.  He  told  the 
writer  after  his  failure  in  the  bank  that  he  felt  keenly  his  inability  to  contribute 
to  the  support  of  the  church.  The  beautiful  chancel  windows  of  the  church 
were  the  gift  of  Mr.  Dubois,  but  few  knew  who  was  the  donor,  so  modest  was 
he  about  his  gift.  The  following  was  taken  from  the  church  record  of  Au- 
gust 28,  1883,  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Dubois,  who  was  then  serving  as  treasurer 
of  the  church: 

"Whereas,  It  has  pleased  Almighty  God,  our  Heavenly  Father,  to  take  out 
of  the  world  the  soul  of  our  deceased  Brother,  A.  McKim  Dubois,  for  so  many 
years  not  only  a  member,  but  also  an  officer  of  the  vestry  of  this  parish,  and  a 
faithful  communicant  of  the  church,  we,  the  remaining  members  of  the  vestry, 
do  hereby  desire  to  express  our  high  admiration  for  his  many  noble  qualities 
of  heart  and  life,  his  humble  faith,  his  quiet  firmness,  his  generous  tenderness, 
his  strict  fidelity  to  every  trust.  His  death  causes  in  our  parish  and  its  vestry 
a  vacancy  which  will  be  hard,  if  not  impossible,  to  fill.  We  extend  our  cordial 
and  heartfelt  sympathy  to  his  wife  and  children,  counting  ourselves  in  the  list 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  221 

of  his  mourning  friends,  thanking  God  for  his  goodly  example,  and  humbly 
praying  that  we  with  him  and  all  the  faithful  may  have  our  perfect  consum- 
mation and  bliss,  both  in  soul  and  body,  in  God's  heavenly  and  eternal  glory, 
through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord." 

In  this  was  shown  the  appreciation  of  the  church  in  one  member  of  the 
banking  house  of  Chesnut  &  Dubois,  one  who  for  a  long  period  was  county 
clerk,  his  records  being  models  of  accuracy  and  neatness.  He  was  a  man  who 
commanded  respect  anywhere  and  was  a  most  distinguished  citizen. 

MARRIED  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

Returning  once  more  to  Rev.  Dresser,  he  was  the  eldest  in  a  family  of  five 
or  six  children,  his  father  being  an  Episcopalian  minister.  Mr.  Dresser  re- 
lated that  one  evening  when  the  family  were  seated  at  the  supper  table,  a  gen- 
tle knock  was  heard  at  the  door,  and  when  one  of  the  members  of  the  family 
opened  the  door  there  stood  a  young  man,  who  was  a  near  neighbor  of  the 
Dresser  family.  The  father  then  went  to  the  door  and  the  young  lawyer  said : 

"Deacon,  I  would  like  to  have  you  drop  around  tomorrow  at  Mr.  -  and 

tie  the  knot  for  Miss  Todd  and  me."  This  was  Lincoln's  way  of  asking  the 
Rev.  Dresser  to  perform  his  marriage  ceremony  and  the  son  remembered  the 
conversation  between  his  father  and  Lincoln  when  the  latter  called  at  the 
Dresser  home  to  secure  the  services  of  the  father  for  this  event. 

The  Episcopalians  of  Carlinville  look  upon  Rev.  D.  W.  Dresser  as  the 
founder  of  the  church  here.  After  he  left  the  church  he  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Higgins  who  remained  only  nine  months.  In  April,  1884,  the  church 
called  D.  D.  Hefter,  a  young  man,  who  was  as  yet  not  ordained.  He  remained 
until  October,  1885.  In  May,  1886,  it  was  arranged  to  have  Rev.  Taylor,  who 
was  serving  the  church  at  Alton,  to  come  to  Carlinville  on  the  second  and 
fourth  Sunday  evenings  of  each  month  and  hold  services.  He  thus  served  the 
church  until  November,  1886.  Rev.  Dyer  then  served  the  church  from  Feb- 
ruary to  July,  1887,  and  in  August  of  that  year  Rev.  H.  M.  Chittenden  became 
pastor.  He  was  a  man  of  social  nature,  very  popular  among  his  congregation, 
and  in  many  ways  was  a  man  of  Rev.  Dresser's  character.  After  serving  the 
church  six  or  seven  years,  Rev.  Chittenden  resigned  and  the  church  was  then 
without  a  pastor  for  a  long  period.  On  the  3ist  of  January,  1901,  a  call  was 
extended  to  Rev.  E.  D.  Irvine,  who  for  two  years  gave  half  of  his  time.  Prior 
to  this,  however,  in  1900,  Rev.  Mr.  Stiwell,  who  had  charge  of  the  Waverly 
church,  came  to  Carlinville  and  preached  occasionally.  February  18,  1905,  Rev. 
Aubrey  F.  Todrig  came  and  remained  two  years,  devoting  one  half  of  his  time 
to  this  church.  In  August,  1907,  Rev.  C.  G.  A.  Monro  came,  remaining  with 
the  church  for  two  and  a  half  years,  when  he  resigned.  In  November,  1910, 
Rev.  Angus  E.  Ferguson  was  sent  as  a  missionary  to  supply  this  pulpit  as  well  as 
Gillespie  and  Bunker  Hill.  On  the  ist  of  May,  1911,  the  Carlinville  church,  feel- 
ing that  it  was  then  in  position  to  arrange  for  all  of  Rev.  Ferguson's  time,  made 
such  arrangement  and  since  that  time  have  had  regular  services  every  Sunday. 


222  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

The  present  vestrymen  are:  J.  D.  Conley,  warden;  B.  M.  Burke,  warden; 
George  J.  Castle,  Sr.,  Solomon  F.  Steidley,  C.  F.  Parker,  Robert  Whiteley,  Sr., 
Howard  O.  Talley  and  George  J.  Castle,  Jr. 

In  connection  with  the  church  is  a  woman's  society  known  as  the  Guild.  Mrs. 
J.  P.  Denby  is  president;  Miss  Netta  Lynch,  secretary;  and  Miss  Jessie  Ander- 
son, treasurer. 

The  church  and  the  society  are  now  in  a  prosperous  condition  with  bright 
prospects  for  the  future. 

ST.  MARY'S  CATHOLIC  CHURCH,  CARLINVILLE. 

This  parish  was  organized  in  1856  and  the  first  services  were  held  in  private 
homes  until  the  building  now  used  for  a  schoolhouse  was  erected  in  the  same  year. 
It  is  a  brick  structure  and  cost  about  $600.  In  1868,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
F.  Schreiber,  the  present  church  building  was  started  and  finished  to  the  roof, 
when,  in  November,  it  was  blown  down  to  the  foundation.  About  that  time 
Rev.  H.  J.  Hoven,  present  pastor  of  St.  Joseph's  church,  was  placed  in  charge 
and  was  empowered  by  the  bishop  to  rebuild.  He  followed  out  his  instructions 
and  the  present  building  was  the  result  of  his  labors  and  administration. 

The  same  year,  under  the  direction  of  the  bishop,  Father  Hoven  was  directed 
to  build  the  present  St.  Joseph's  church. 

St.  Mary's  structure  with  the  rectory  detached,  cost  about  $19,000  in  all.  The 
pastors  of  St.  Mary's  have  been:  Rev.  F.  Schreiber,  1861-68;  H.  J.  Hoven, 
1868-78;  L.  Hoye,  1878-90;  Rev.  Kerr,  1890-92;  Rev.  Daw,  1892-97;  Rev.  Mas- 
terson,  1897-99;  Rev.  Thomas  Costello,  1899-1907;  Rev.  H.  J.  Hoven.  1907-09; 
Rev.  P.  MacDonnell,  1909  and  is  the  present  incumbent. 

ST.  JOSEPH'S  CATHOLIC  CHURCH,  CARLINVILLE. 

St.  Joseph's  church  was  organized  in  1868  and  was  placed  under  the  adminis- 
tration of  Rev.  H.  J.  Hoven.  The  building  was  erected  by  him  in  that  year  at 
a  cost  of  $20,000,  to  which  an  addition  was  built  in  1896.  A  pipe  organ  was  in- 
stalled in  1894  at  a  cost  of  $1,000.  The  property  in  all  belonging  to  St.  Joseph's 
church  is  worth  about  $40,000.  There  were  thirty-five  families  in  the  church 
in  1868.  The  number  now  is  one  hundred  and  twenty.  The  Sunday  school  has 
an  average  attendance  of  seventy.  On  the  28th  of  May,  1911,  there  were  sixty- 
five  confirmed. 

The  church  is  in  a  very  prosperous  condition,  has  a  parochial  school  and  sev- 
eral societies. 

The  second  pastor  was  H.  Eggenstein,  who  came  in  1870.  He  was  followed 
in  1877  by  F.  A.  Ostrop.  His  successor  arrived  in  1892  in  the  person  of  C.  Som- 
mers,  who  was  succeeded  by  A.  Adei  in  1900.  Father  H.  J.  Hoven  returned  to 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  223 

this  parish  in  1909,  but  on  the  ist  of  October,  1911,  he  resigned  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  W.  Michael,  of  Pierron,  Bond  county,  Illinois. 

ST.  CATHERINE'S  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  OF  VIRDEN. 

The  first  Catholic  society  in  Virden  was  attended  from  the  Church  of  the 
Immaculate  Conception  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  by  a  priest  who  celebrated  mass 
only  about  once  in  two  months  in  private  houses.  Later  Virden  was  made  a 
station  and  attended  from  the  church  at  Carlinville.  It  was  about  the  year 
1854  or  1855  that  a  church  was  erected  at  the  corner  of  Jackson  and  Emmet 
streets  and  the  first  resident  priest  was  Rev.  Richard  Grant,  who  served  the 
church  from  1867  to  1868.  His  successors  in  turn  were  Revs.  M.  Clifford,  D. 
Tiomey  and  Very  Rev.  T.  Hickey,  who  was  later  made  vicar  general  of  the  Alton 
diocese.  The  latter  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Lawrence  Ryan,  who  died  while 
pastor  of  this  church.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  D.  J.  Ryan.  Next  came  Rev. 
J.  Murphy,  who  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  L.  Hansen.  From  1880  until  1887, 
Rev.  P.  J.  O'Reilly  was  pastor  of  the  church  and  he  was  followed  by  Rev.  James 
Haward,  William  J.  McGee,  T.  J.  Morrow  and  J.  J.  Clancey,  the  latter  being  sent 
to  another  charge  in  September,  1899.  Rev.  Francis  J.  Hussey  was  the  next 
pastor  of  the  church  and  during  his  pastorate  the  church  underwent  some  needed 
improvements.  Father  Bell  then  became  pastor  but  remained  only  one  year,  re- 
signing on  account  of  ill  health  and  going  to  the  west.  During  his  service  a 
steeple  was  built  on  the  church  and  in  the  tower  was  hung  a  bell.  There  were 
also  placed  new  memorial  stained  glass  windows,  which  were  donated  by  the 
parishioners.  In  1903  Thomas  J.  Carroll  came  to  St.  Catherine's  and  has  been 
the  pastor  to  the  present  time,  1911.  About  four  years  ago  quite  an  addition  was 
built  to  the  east  end  of  the  church,  which  has  added  materially  to  the  seating  ca- 
pacity, while  the  altar  and  vestry  was  placed  in  the  space  which  was  built  on. 
The  interior  was  also  newly  decorated  and  frescoed  in  beautiful  design.  The 
.church  now  enjoys  a  large  membership. 

In  1911  a  new  parochial  school  was  built  on  ground  to  the  rear  of  the  church 
and  rectory  and  will  be  opened  for  educational  purposes  in  the  fall  of  the  present 
year.  These  buildings  stand  in  the  midst  of  spacious  grounds  and  altogether  St. 
Catherine's  has  a  valuable  property. 

ST.  MICHAEL'S  CATHOLIC  CHURCH,  STAUNTON. 

The  members  who  form  St.  Michael's  parish  were  from  New  Douglass  and 
Staunton  and  the  church  was  organized  by  Father  O'Halloran,  of  East  St.  Louis, 
in  1867.  The  present  church  edifice  was  erected  the  same  year.  The  first  con- 
gregation was  attended  as  a  mission  from  Edwardsville,  when  it  was  served  by 
Revs.  Lohman,  Kuhlman,  Janson  and  Schlegel.  It  then  became  a  mission  from 
Raymond  and  was  served  by  Revs.  Happe,  Haase  and  Dietrich.  It  became  self 
supporting  in  1888,  Rev.  A.  Zurbonsen  being  the  first  pastor.  He  was  followed 
in  1898  by  Rev.  J.  A.  Postner.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  A.  Duval,  who 
came  in  1907. 


224  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

It  was  during  the  incumbency  of  Rev.  Zurbonsen  that  the  parsonage  was  built 
and  the  school  started  in  a  building  leased  from  the  Consolidated  Coal  Company 
near  No.  5  mine.  The  mission  at  Mt.  Olive  was  also  started  by  him,  and  the 
latter  became  self  supporting  in  1855.  Rev.  Postner  built  the  sisters  dwelling 
and  in  1904  erected  the  school  building  just  east  of  the  parsonage.  It  has  two 
full  stories  and  a  basement,  is  53x73  feet  and  contains  four  school  rooms  and  a 
hall.  In  the  basement  are  a  bowling  alley  and  reading  rooms.  The  school  is 
under  the  instruction  of  the  Franciscan  sisters  and  has  an  enrollment  of  190. 
The  church  congregation  comprises  250  families. 

CHURCH    OF    THE    ASCENSION,    MT.    OLIVE. 

This  Catholic  society  first  held  services  in  private  homes,  it  being  a  mission 
established  from  the  Staunton  church,  and  Rev.  Father  A.  Zurbonsen  had  charge 
from  1891  until  1898.  In  1890  the  congregation  decided  to  build  a  church,  which 
was  dedicated  on  New  Year's  day  of  1891,  at  a  cost  of  $2,000.  Father  Zurbon- 
sen was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Joseph  Postner,  who  served  from  1898  until  1905, 
when,  on  the  ist  of  January  of  the  latter  year,  Rev.  L.  P.  Hurkmans  took  charge 
of  the  parish,  he  being  the  first  resident  priest.  During  his  pastorate,  in  1906,  a 
rectory  was  built,  the  entire  value  of  the  church  property  being  now  $6,000.  On 
the  ist  of  June,  1911,  Rev.  W.  A.  Toomey  took  charge. 

There  are  about  150  Catholic  families  in  Mt.  Olive,  most  of  whom  are  com- 
municants of  the  Church  of  the  Ascension. 

CHURCH    Or   THE   ANNUNCIATION    OF   THE   BLESSED   VIRGIN,    BUNKER    HILL. 

A  Catholic  society  was  organized  here  in  1854  and  the  same  year  a  frame 
church  was  erected  and  a  rectory  also  adjoins  the  church  property.  In  former 
years  a  parochial  school  was  sustained  but  this  has  been  closed  for  the  past  twenty 
years,  although  the  building  still  stands.  The  communicants  number  fifty-five 
families. 

The  pastors  who  have  served  this  church  are:  1854-65,  Rev.  A.  B.  Rinkes; 
1865-69,  P.  J.  O'Halloran;  1869-71,  M.  Clifford;  1871-4,  William  Cluever;  1874- 
9,  William  Neu;  1879  to  the  present  time,  1911,  F.  H.  Zabel. 

BUNKER    HILL    CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH. 

This  society  grew  out  of  the  Woodburn  church  and  dates  its  organization  from 
September  13,  1842.  The  early  history  of  the  church  is  closely  connected  with 
that  of  the  Woodburn  church.  The  first  minister,  as  appears  from  imperfectly 
kept  records,  was  William  Fithian,  during  the  year  1843.  Mr.  Fithian  did  not 
continue  permanently  here  but  was  for  a  time  agent  for  the  American  Peace 
Society.  J.  S.  Graves  served  from  1846  until  1848  and  the  pulpit  was  supplied 
by  George  Spaulding  from  the  latter  year  until  1852.  Rev.  Donatus  Merrill 
preached  one  half  the  time  at  Bunker  Hill  while  he  was  at  Woodburn,  and  from 
1854  to  1857  Rev.  C.  B.  Barton  divided  his  labors  between  Woodburn  and 
Bunker  Hill.  James  Weller  was  the  pastor  from  1857  to  1866.  and  William  E. 


ST.   JOSEPH'S    RECTORY.   CARLIXYILLE 


ST.  JOSEPH'S  CHTRCH.  CARLINYILLE         LUTHERAN    CHURCH,    CARLIN'YILI.K 


ST.  JOSEPH'S  SCHOOL.  CARLIXVILLE 


LIBRARY 

OF  I  HE 

OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  225 

Holyoke  from  1866  to  1868.  R.  C.  Stone  was  the  pastor  from  1868  to  1872, 
and  G.  W.  Bainum  from  1872  to  1879.  Since  that  time  the  historian  was  unable 
to  get  a  record  of  the  pastors  but  at  the  present  time,  1911,  Rev.  J.  C.  Stoddard 
is  serving  the  church,  having  been  here  four  years.  The  present  membership 
is  150. 

CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH,  BRIGHTON. 

This  society  was  organized  June  6,  1867.  For  a  year  the  congrregation  wor- 
shipped in  a  hall  but  in  1868  a  house  of  worship  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $3,500, 
H.  D.  Platt  preaching  the  dedicatory  sermon.  Some  of  the  early  pastors  were 
John  E.  Wheeler,  Charles  L.  Tappan,  Isaiah  W.  Thomas. 

CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH,    CHESTERFIELD. 

This  society  was  organized  March  6,  1868,  with  fifteen  charter  members. 
Rev.  T.  B.  Hurlbut  was  the  first  pastor,  remaining  with  the  congregation  until 
1850,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  James  R.  Dunn,  who  remained  until  1854. 
Others  who  remained  for  brief  periods  were  S.  P.  Lindley,  G.  W.  Stinson  and 
J.  C.  Downer,  and  the  latter  was  succeeded  by  H.  D.  Platt,  who  had  charge  from 
1858  until  1868.  Then  came  H.  N.  Baldwin  who  remained  until  1870,  when  he 
was  followed  by  Elihu  Loomis,  who  remained  in  charge  eight  years,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Calvin  Selden. 

In  the  spring  of  1855  a  house  of  worship  was  built,  at  a  cost  about  $2,000. 

CHRISTIAN     CHURCH,    CARLINVILLE. 

The  Christian  church  society  here  was  organized  in  1896,  with  sixty-three 
charter  members,  among  whom  were  Dr.  Jesse  H.  Smith,  his  wife,  Margaret  A. 
Smith,  John  Wilson  and  Emma  Wilson,  his  wife,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  G.  Richard- 
son, Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  A.  Taylor,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Cunningham  and 
others  whose  names  are  not  at  hand. 

In  the  year  above  mentioned  a  substantial  and  attractive  church  building  of 
brick  and  stone  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $12,000,  which  was  all  paid  at  the 
time.  The  building  is  designated  as  the  Taylor-Smith  Memorial  church,  be- 
cause of  the  fact  that  Mrs.  Margaret  A.  Smith  gave  the  proceeds  of  eighty  acres 
of  land,  which  came  to  her  through  her  first  husband,  Richard  Taylor,  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  Honey  Point  township.  The  money  obtained  from  the  sale 
of  the  land  was  given  by  Mrs.  Smith  as  a  building  fund  for  the  church.  The 
donor  was  born,  Margaret  Sparks,  and  married  Dr.  Jesse  H.  Smith,  a  pioneer 
minister  of  the  Christian  church,  of  central  Illinois,  who  was  for  a  short  time 
pastor  of  this  charge.  He  died  in  Carlinville  and  lies  buried  at  Auburn,  Sanga- 
mon  county. 

Of  the  original  building  committee  those  now  alive  are :  John  Wilson,  Chris- 
topher R.  Aden  and  H.  T.  Richardson. 

The  present  membership  of  the  church  is  about  120,  and  its  pastor  is  Rev. 
J.  W.  Porter,  who  began  his  pastorate  in  June,  1910.  At  his  coming  the  church 
people  purchased  a  neat  parsonage,  costing  $2,000,  which  is  about  five  blocks 
northeast  of  the  church  building.  Since  the  organization  of  this  church  the  pas- 


226  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

tors  have  been  the  Revs.  R.  A.  Omer,  Dr.  Jesse  H.  Smith,  J.  W.  Knight,  Rev. 
Purlee,  Seymour  Smith,  J.  H.  Applegate,  E.  O.  Sharpe,  W.  West,  J.  M.  Bowe 
and  F.  H.  Gumming. 

CHRISTIAN    CHURCH    OF   VIRDEN. 

The  above  church  was  organized  on  the  2ist  of  August,  1882,  the  meeting  for 
the  purpose  being  called  by  one  of  the  elders  of  the  church  at  Girard.  David 
Metcalf  was  chosen  temporary  chairman,  and  James  A.  Bronaugh,  secretary. 
The  meeting  was  addressed  by  Rev.  Black,  who  preached  a  helpful  sermon,  after 
which  the  following  persons  presented  themselves  and  became  charter  members 
of  the  newly  formed  congregation:  James  A.  Bronaugh,  Mrs.  Amelia  Bronaugh, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Williams,  J.  D.  Alderson,  Mrs.  Louisa  Spaulding,  Mrs. 
Anna  Kable,  Mrs.  Newton  Allen,  Mrs.  Sue  Plowman,  Mrs.  Lottie  Plowman,  Mrs. 
Eva  Strang,  Mrs.  Ann  Henderson,  Mrs.  Maxie  Henderson,  Mrs.  Nancy  J.  Mc- 
Knight,  Mrs.  Lizzie  Rice,  Mrs.  D.  M.  Williams,  Jacob  Groves,  Mrs.  Candace 
Groves,  Mrs.  Dempsey  Solomon,  Mrs.  Lucy  J.  Solomon,  Henry  M.  Gates,  Mrs. 
Flora  Gates,  Mrs.  Laura  Piper,  Mrs.  M.  J.  Wigginton,  L.  N.  Roland. 

On  the  third  Sunday  of  the  same  month  a  church  building  was  dedicated  by 
Rev.  W.  F.  Black,  of  Chicago.  The  building  cost  $4,000,  and  was  dedicated  free 
from  debt. 

In  the  early  struggles  of  the  church  Rev.  Jesse  Smith  of  Chatham  supplied 
the  pulpit  until  a  regular  pastor  could  be  secured.  Later  on  Rev.  Samuel  M. 
Conner,  of  Normal,  became  the  first  regular  pastor  of  the  congregation.  The 
present  membership  numbers  252,  and  with  a  large  and  growing  Bible  school 
and  young  peoples  societies  it  became  necessary  to  erect  a  larger  church  building. 
So  at  the  close  of  1911  a  new  edifice  will  have  taken  the  place  of  the  old  one, 
at  a  cost  of  about  $30,000.  The  ceremony  of  laying  the  corner  stone  was  an  im- 
pressive one  and  took  place  Sunday,  July  3Oth. 

CHRISTIAN    CHURCH,    STAUNTON. 

The  Christian  church  was  organized  at  this  place  many  years  ago  and  it  was 
quite  strong  at  one  time  in  its  membership,  but  of  later  years  the  organization 
has  lost  in  strength  and  for  some  time  past  this  congregation  has  had  no  regular 
pastor. 

CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  GIRARD. 

During  the  '505  there  was  occasional  preaching  by  itinerant  ministers  pass- 
ing through  Girard.  At  this  time  Mesdames  Turman,  Moore,  Eastham,  Deck, 
Mrs.  Alfred  Mayfield,  Mrs.  Dr.  Marshall,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Ewing  and 
Misses  Fannie  and  Kate  Eastham,  having  been  members  of  the  Christian  church 
elsewhere,  determined  upon  an  organization  of  their  own  in  Girard,  and  through 
their  efforts  the  state  board  sent  Elder  Alexander  Johnstone  to  effect  an  or- 
ganization, which  was  done  July  15,  1860.  The  charter  members  were  Mes- 
dames  Thurman,  Moore,  Nathan,  Belle  Woods,  Grandma  Eastham,  Misses 
Kate  and  Fannie  Eastham  and  John  Ewing  and  wife.  The  elders  chosen  were 
John  Ewing  and  James  Duncan.  At  this  time  there  were  but  two  churches  in 
Girard,  one  being  a  union  church  used  by  the  Presbyterians,  Methodists  and 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  227 

Baptists,  which  stood  where  the  Presbyterian  church  is  now  located,  and  the 
other  a  Universalist  church.  Soon  after  the  organization  of  the  church  Messrs. 
Thurman  and  Jacob  Deck  became  active  members. 

For  a  time  the  members  met  in  a  frame  building  on  the  site  now  occupied 
by  the  brick  building  in  which  Donaldson's  jewelry  store  is  located.  Later  they 
met  in  private  homes,  preaching  services  being  held  once  a  month,  the  minister 
being  paid  $12  a  month.  For  a  time  the  Universalist  church  was  rented  and 
meetings  were  held  there. 

In  1865  the  members  decided  to  erect  a  church  of  their  own.  They  pur- 
chased a  lot  for  $300  and  on  it  a  building  36x40  feet  was  erected,  and  in  the 
'705  a  twenty  feet  addition  was  made  to  the  building.  In  1865  Dr.  Jesse  Smith 
held  a  successful  meeting  and  the  following  year,  1866,  became  the  first  regu- 
lar pastor  of  the  church.  He  was  followed  by  Revs.  Corwin  and  Bastion. 
Then  for  a  time  the  congregation  was  without  a  regular  pastor  but  services  were 
conducted  by  one  of  the  elders  of  the  church.  Eventually  Rev.  Layman  was 
called  to  the  pastorate  and  he  remained  three  or  four  years.  He  was  followed 
by  Rev.  Ingram,  who  remained  two  years.  About  this  time  Rev.  Black,  an 
evangelist,  conducted  a  seven  weeks'  meeting,  which  resulted  in  the  addition  of 
one  hundred  members  to  the  church.  Rev.  J.  B.  Corwin  was  then  called  to  the 
pastorate  and  he  was  followed  by  Revs.  Bastion,  Puett  and  Layman.  In  1891 
Rev.  Young  was  called  to  the  pastorate  and  he  remained  for  two  years,  during 
which  time  the  parsonage  was  erected.  In  1893  Rev.  Groves  became  pastor 
and  remained  for  two  years,  being  followed  by  Rev.  Peters,  who  remained  a 
similar  period.  In  1899  Rev.  Sharp  came  and  remained  for  three  years.  During 
his  ministry  a  new  church  was  built,  which  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  Sweeney  on 
the  i8th  of  November,  1900,  Rev.  Dutt  eventually  became  pastor,  remaining  two 
years,  and  was  followed  by  Rev.  Windbigler,  who  remained  with  the  church  two 
and  a  half  years.  Rev.  York  took  charge  October  14,  1906,  and  was  followed 
by  Rev.  W.  F.  Kohl,  who  became  the  pastor  in  January,  1909.  The  church  is 
now  in  a  prosperous  condition  and  it  has  recently  undergone  some  improvements, 
which  have  added  much  to  the  beauty  and  attractiveness  of  the  building. 

There  is  also  a  Sunday  school,  Christian  Endeavor  and  Junior  Christian 
Endeavor  societies,  all  of  which  are  prospering. 

THE    EVANGELICAL    CHURCH. 

The  Formula  of  Concord,  which  was  drawn  up  in  1577  by  learned  men  like 
Jacob  Andreae  and  Martin  Chemnitz,  was  intended  to  supplement  and  define 
the  Augsburg  confession,  1530,  and  thus  become  a  specific  on  every  conceivable 
point  of  doctrine.  This  document  was  accepted  as  a  creed  by  the  churches  of 
several  German  provinces,  but  rejected  by  those  in  most  of  the  others  and 
proved  to  be  a  failure  in  so  far  as  it  was  intended  to  settle  all  disputes  of  doc- 
trine. 

For  more  than  two  centuries  after  this  the  unhappy  dissensions  and  quarrels 
of  various  factions  of  the  church  of  the  Reformation — chiefly  between  the  fol- 
lowers of  Luther,  who  (against  his  expressed  wish),  had  adopted  his  name  and 
those  of  the  Swiss  leaders,  Zwingli  and  Calvin,  who  called  themselves  "Re- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

formed" — made  the  fundamental  saving  truth  of  the  Word  of  God  almost  as 
scarce  among  the  German  people,  as  Romish  tyranny  and  superstition  had 
made  it  before  Luther  began  his  work. 

This  lamentable  division  and  the  sad  conditions  which  arose  from  it,  was 
deeply  deplored  by  large  numbers  of  devout  Christians  in  all  parts  of  Ger- 
many. So  King  Frederick  William  III  of  Prussia  in  1817,  the  tercentenary  of 
the  posting  by  Luther  of  his  famous  ninety-five  theses  upon  the  door  of  the 
castle  of  the  church  at  Wittenberg,  brought  together  a  number  of  the  most 
prominent  theologians  of  his  kingdom,  who  succeeded  in  formulating  a  book 
of  worship,  which  was  acceptable  to  the  great  majority  of  both  Lutheran  and 
Reformed  churches.  This  was  the  famous  Prussian  Union,  the  first  successful 
step  toward  a  union  of  Protestant  churches. 

Among  those  who  deeply  cherished  the  ideal  of  a  union  of  the  Protestant 
churches  were  many  members  and  friends  of  the  well  known  missionary  socie- 
ties of  Basel  and  Barmen  in  Switzerland  and  Germany.  In  response  to  an 
appeal  of  Richard  Bigelow,  of  New  York  city,  and  other  prominent  Americans 
of  New  York  and  New  England,  who  saw  the  need  of  missionary  work  among 
the  German  immigrants,  especially  in  the  west,  the  Basel  Missionary  Society, 
in  1837,  sent  two  young  pastors,  G.  W.  Wall  and  Joseph  Rieger,  to  this  coun- 
try. They  in  connection  with  several  others  of  their  faith  formed  in  Gravois 
Settlement,  near  St.  Louis,  in  1840,  a  church  union,  from  which  small  begin- 
ning in  course  of  years  gradually  developed  the  Evangelical  Synod  of  North 
America. 

The  short  and  simple  creed  with  which  they  declared  their  position  is  as 
follows : 

The  German  Evangelical  church  of  North  America,  as  a  part  of  the  Evan- 
gelical church  abroad,  defines  the  term  "Evangelical  church"  as  denoting  that 
branch  of  the  Christian  church  which  acknowledges  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the 
Old  and  New  Testament  as  the  Word  of  God,  the  sole  and  infallible  guide  of 
faith  and  life,  and  accepts  the  interpretation  of  the  Holy  Scripture  as  given  in 
the  symbolic  books  of  the  Lutheran  and  the  Reformed  churches,  the  most  im- 
portant being  the  Augsburg  Confession,  Luther's  and  the  Heidelberg  catechisms, 
in  so  far  as  they  agree ;  but  where  they  disagree  the  German  Evangelical  church 
of  America  adheres  strictly  to  the  passages  of  Holy  Scriptures  bearing  on  the 
subject,  and  avails  itself  of  the  liberty  of  conscience  prevailing  in  the  Evan- 
gelical church.  This  church  body  has  now  1,034  ministers  and  1,321  churches, 
with  259,593  communicants  and  a  church  property  valued  at  over  $13,000,000. 

There  are  only  four  churches  of  the  Evangelical  denomination  in  Macoupin 
county,  namely:  Carlinville.  Staunton.  Brighton  and  Mt.  Olive,  which  was 
first  recently  organized. 

ST.    PAUL'S    EVANGELICAL    CHURCH    AT    CARLINVILLE. 

The  German  Evangelical  St.  Paul's  congregation  at  Carlinville,  Illinois,  was 
organized  as  a  "free  congregation"  (independent  church)  in  the  year  1859.  The 
first  services  were  held  in  the  Presbyterian  church  and  the  old  court  house. 
Several  independent  pastors  devoted  their  services  during  the  first  ten  years  to 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  229 

this  congregation.  Their  names  were :  Rev.  Muenther,  Rev.  Buechler,  Rev. 
Dr.  Riedel  and  Rev.  Ruether.  A  year  after  the  organization  the  congregation 
bought  the  site  and  building  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  situated  on 
South  Broad  street.  This  place  was  later  sold  to  the  city  and  is  now  used  as  a 
part  of  the  Free  school  campus. 

The  following  gentlemen  constituted  the  board  of  elders  and  were  charter 
members :  Fred  Walthers,  Bernhard  Lorenz,  Martin  Rigg,  George  Schoenherr 
and  George  E.  Deiss. 

Ten  years  after  its  organization  the  St.  Paul's  congregation  affiliated  with 
the  German  Evangelical  Synod  of  North  America  and  ceased  to  be  an  inde- 
pendent church.  Since  that  time  the  membership  has  increased  rapidly.  Rev. 
C.  Witte  was  called  to  the  pastorate  in  1868  and  labored  faithfully  for  two  years. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Philipp  Meusch,  who  remained  with  the  congrega- 
tion until  1875.  In  the  meantime  Rev.  Witte  was  active  in  editorial  work  and 
also  instructed  a  German  class  in  the  public  school.  When  Rev.  Meusch  re- 
signed his  work,  the  congregation  called  Rev.  George  Goebel  to  the  pastorate. 
He  remained  for  ten  years  and  under  his  pastorate  the  present  church  and 
parochial  school  buildings  were  erected.  The  new  church  was  dedicated  in 
October,  1878,  and  the  school  building  in  1882.  From  that  time  on  the  church 
began  to  flourish.  The  new  buildings  were  erected  on  a  large  lot  60x330  feet, 
opposite  the  imposing  courthouse,  the  site  being  one  of  the  most  desirable. 
When  Rev.  Goebel  resigned  in  1875,  Rev.  H.  J.  Dinkmeier  was  called  to  succeed 
him  and  he  remained  until  1898.  Under  his  wise  administration,  the  new  par- 
sonage was  built  and  the  congregation  for  the  first  time  during  its  existence 
cleared  itself  of  all  debts.  Rev.  F.  J.  Buschmann  took  charge  of  the  affairs  of 
the  church  in  1898  and  remained  for  three  years,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  the 
present  pastor,  Rev.  W.  Riemeier. 

In  1909  the  church  edifice  was  enlarged  and  remodeled  at  an  expense  of 
about  $5,000  and  there  remains  only  a  small  sum  to  be  paid  and  the  congrega- 
tion will  be  once  more  clear  of  all  incumbrance.  The  development  has  been 
steady  and  today  this  congregation  is  one  of  the  foremost  churches  in  the 
county,  having  about  350  individual  members. 

Since  the  organization  there  has  been  in  connection  with  the  church  work 
a  parochial  day  school,  which  has  done  much  to  educate  the  young  generation 
for  spiritual  work.  Professor  Albert  A.  Spiegel,  W.  Riemeier,  L.  Weiss,  F. 
Kloppe  and  F.  Hermsen  have  had  charge  of  this  department  for  longer  or 
shorter  terms.  In  1904  Miss  Laura  Riemeier  took  charge  of  the  school  and 
since  her  death  in  January,  1911,  the  school  has  had  no  permanent  teacher. 
The  enrollment  now  is  thirty  pupils.  The  Sunday  school  has  about  100  children 
and  fourteen  teachers.  The  church  choir  has  sixteen  members,  the  Ladies' 
Aid  about  ninety,  the  Mission  Society,  fifty-five,  the  Young  People's  Society 
about  sixty  and  the  Martha  Society  some  forty  members. 

EVANGELICAL    LUTHERAN    ZION    CHURCH. 

In  1849  A.  Guellmann  and  family  settled  about  three  miles  northwest  of 
Carlinville,  being  the  first  German  family  which  permanently  took  up  their 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

abode  in  this  part  of  the  state.  In  1850  immigration  of  the  Germans  com- 
menced and  many  settled  in  and  near  Carlinville,  and  as  they  had  been  taught 
and  educated  from  childhood  in  the  faith  of  the  Lutheran  church,  which  holds 
to  the  verbal  inspiration  of  Holy  Writ  and  to  the  "sola  gratia,"  i.  e.,  saved  alone 
by  Grace,  they  were  anxious  to  establish  a  Lutheran  congregation  in  this  part  of 
their  newly  adopted  country.  The  Rev.  Besel,  of  Staunton,  Illinois,  came  here 
in  1854  and  preached  several  times  in  the  country  districts  near  Carlinville. 

In  1856  the  Lutherans  hereabouts  requested  the  Rev.  Professor  C.  F.  W. 
Walther,  of  St.  Louis,  who  was  then  the  president  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Synod  of  Missouri,  Ohio,  and  other  states,  to  send  a  Lutheran  minister.  In 
May,  1856,  the  Rev.  Buenger,  of  St.  Louis,  was  sent,  and  preached  in  the  old 
court  house.  The  Revs.  Strasen  and  G.  Link  assisted  in  holding  services. 
Finally,  July  6,  1856,  a  call  was  extended  to  E.  Multanowski,  who  was  a  grad- 
uate of  Concordia  Seminary,  located  at  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana.  He  accepted 
the  pastorate  of  Zion  church  and  was  ordained  in  August,  1856,  by  the  Rev. 
Rennicke,  of  Staunton,  as  the  regular  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  church  of  Carlin- 
ville. Regular  services  were  conducted  in  the  old  court  house  until  in  1859, 
ten  or  twelve  voting  (active)  members  bought  a  lot  on  South  Broad  street  and 
built  a  small  brick  church,  which  was  dedicated  in  the  fall  of  1859,  and  is  still 
used  as  a  parish  school.  Rev.  Multanowski,  in  1860,  accepted  a  call  to  Wis- 
consin, and  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  C.  L.  Geyer,  of  Lebanon,  Wisconsin,  who 
began  his  work  in  Carlinville  in  August,  1860,  having  been  installed  by  the  Rev. 
Professor  Schaller,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  Under  his  fostering  care  the  mem- 
bership increased  so  that  the  congregation  concluded  to  build  a  larger,  modern 
brick  church,  on  lots  purchased  south  of  the  old  sanctuary,  at  a  cost  of  $12,000. 
It  was  dedicated  in  November,  1868,  and  is  still  the  house  of  worship  for  the 
Lutherans  in  Carlinville  and  vicinity. 

After  a  sixteen  year  pastorate  here,  Rev.  Geyer,  in  the  spring  of  1876 
accepted  a  call  to  Serbin,  Texas.  During  the  vacancy  which  followed,  the  Rev. 
Professor  H.  C.  Wyneken,  the  professor  at  Concordia  Seminary,  Springfield, 
Illinois,  the  now  sainted  father  of  the  present  pastor  in  charge,  served  the  con- 
gregation on  Sundays,  until  their  newly  called  pastor,  the  Rev.  B.  Miessler,  of 
Palmyra,  Missouri,  arrived  in  December,  1876.  He  was  ordained  by  the  Rev. 
Professor  H.  C.  Wyneken,  and  remained  with  the  congregation,  laboring  faith- 
fully for  thirty-two  years,  until  he  resigned  his  charge  in  1908.  Under  his  min- 
istration the  large  debt  on  the  church  was  paid,  a  parsonage  bought,  also  a  pipe 
organ  and  a  church  bell,  and  in  the  fiftieth  anniversary  year  of  the  congregation, 
in  1906,  $2,657  was  expended  for  furnace,  windows,  fresco  painting,  etc. 

The  Rev.  Ph.  Wilhelm,  of  Staunton,  supplied  the  congregation  during  the 
vacancy  after  Rev.  Miessler's  resignation  was  accepted.  In  January,  1909,  the 
Rev.  M.  Daib,  of  Troy,  Illinois,  was  installed  as  pastor  and  served  the  con- 
gregation most  faithfully  and  was  very  successful.  He  introduced  English 
services  Sunday  evenings,  while  German  services  were  held  Sunday  forenoons. 
In  May,  1910,  the  Rev.  Daib  resigned  and  moved  to  Chicago.  Professor  L. 
Wessel,  of  Springfield,  Illinois,  also  Professor  O.  Boeder  and  Professor  J. 
Herzer,  of  the  same  place,  filled  the  pulpit  during  the  vacancy,  until  the  newly 
called  pastor,  the  Rev.  F.  G.  Wyneken,  of  Corona,  Queensborough,  New  York 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  231 

city,  arrived  and  was  installed  August  21,  1910,  by  Professor  Wessel.  The 
Rev.  Wyneken  is  still  pastor  of  Zion  church. 

The  congregation  now  numbers  422  members,  fifty-eight  of  which  are  voting 
members.  Its  Sunday  school  (German  and  English  departments)  numbers 
eighty-one  pupils.  The  parochial  school,  in  which  besides  all  the  branches  taught 
in  the  public  school,  also  religion  and  German  is  taught,  is  still  maintained  by 
willing  hands  and  hearts.  It  numbers  twenty-seven  scholars.  The  instructors 
in  the  parish  school  have  been  the  Revs.  Multanowski,  Geyer,  Messrs.  N.  Haase, 
G.  Karau,  K.  Teich,  K.  Duesenberg,  E.  Just  and  :W.  Joeckel.  Professor  G.  M. 
Schmidt  is  the  present  principal  and  instructor,  also  the  present  organist  and 
choir  director. 

The  Ladies'  Aid  Society  has  a  membership  of  sixty-nine  and  the  Young 
People's  Society  about  sixty-two  members.  Zion's  congregation  is  at  present 
erecting  a  new  modern  frame  parsonage  at  a  cost  of  $4,000,  on  lots  south  of 
the  church  building. 

ST.    PAUL'S    EVANGELICAL    LUTHERAN    CHURCH,    STAUNTON. 

This  church  has  been  organized  about  forty  years.  Previous  to  its  estab- 
lishment services  had  been  held  in  Staunton  at  various  places,  the  minister 
coming  from  Mt.  Olive.  Soon  after  the  organization  of  this  congregation  a 
small  church  was  built,  which  was  converted  into  a  schoolhouse.  The  second 
church,  a  frame  building,  was  dedicated  December  16,  1900.  It  is  an  imposing 
structure  and  a  pipe  organ  has  been  installed.  The  church  property,  including 
church,  parsonage,  school  and  two  teachers'  residences,  is  valued  at  $25,000. 
The  present  membership  of  the  church  is  ninety. 

The  first  resident  pastor  was  G.  H.  Nollau,  who  came  in  1876,  and  remained 
one  year;  1877-86,  F.  Schaer;  1886-94,  H.  Pfundt;  1894-99,  C.  F.  Stoerker; 
1899-1904,  C.  F.  Kneiker;  1904-07,  E.  Hugo;  1907,  L.  Rauch,  who  is  the  present 
pastor. 

The  school  has  an  attendance  of  from  ninety-five  to  one  hundred  pupils. 
P.  C.  Seybold  is  the  head  instructor,  and  he  has  two  lady  assistants. 

EVANGELICAL  CHTJRCH,  BRIGHTON. 

This  society  was  organized  in  Brighton  in  1870  and  the  following  year  a 
church  was  built.  The  first  pastor  of  the  church  was  Rev.  Luterman. 

ZION    EVANGELICAL  LUTHERAN   CHURCH. 

The  first  preaching  in  Staunton  by  the  Lutherans  was  done  by  Rev.  F. 
Loehner,  of  Pleasant  Ridge,  in  1847.  The  congregation  was  organized  January 
i,  1851,  and  Rev.  Fred  Reisener  was  called  as  its  first  pastor.  For  three  years 
prior  to  this  time  it  had  been  a  mission  point  under  the  ministrations  of  Revs. 
J.  G.  Birkmann  and  K.  Schliepsick.  The  first  house  of  worship  was  built  of  logs 
in  1855,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Rennecke.  One  year  later  the  congrega- 
tion became  a  member  of  the  Missouri  synod.  In  1858  the  old  lots  were  sold 


232  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

and  the  church  and  parsonage  removed  to  the  grounds  now  occupied  by  the 
present  church,  which  is  a  substantial  brick  structure,  erected  in  1864,  and 
dedicated  on  the  I3th  of  November  of  that  year,  at  a  cost  of  $5,000.  At  this 
time  Rev.  R.  Vogt  was  pastor  and  the  building  of  this  church  was  one  of  the 
victories  of  his  work  here. 

The  first  teacher  employed  in  the  parochial  school  was  Professor  C.  W. 
Trettin,  who  began  his  work  September  i,  1869.  A  portion  of  the  congregation 
withdrew  in  1877  and  formed  a  nucleus  for  New  Braunschweig.  The  growth 
of  the  home  congregation  necessitated  the  formation  of  a  second  class  in  the 
parochial  school  and  two  teachers  were  employed  for  it.  Professors  H.  Heise 
and  H.  Haas,  the  latter  being  succeeded  soon  after  by  Professor  O.  E.  Gotsch, 
who  remained  a  successful  teacher  of  the  school  until  his  voluntary  retirement 
in  1903.  He  was  a  teacher  here  for  twenty-one  years  and  worked  five  years  in 
other  places. 

In  August,  1904,  the  corner  stone  of  the  present  elegant  church  building  was 
laid  and  on  the  i2th  of  the  following  March  the  building  was  dedicated  with 
impressive  ceremonies.  It  cost  over  $20,000  and  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
edifices  of  this  character  in  this  section.  The  main  steeple  is  127  feet  high  and 
contains  a  chime  of  three  bells,  the  largest  weighing  nearly  1,400  pounds.  The 
foundation  is  of  Grafton  stone  and  the  superstructure  of  pressed  brick.  The 
furniture  and  interior  decorations  are  rich  and  tasteful.  The  parochial  school 
has  165  pupils,  taught  by  Professors  Guenther  and  Kowert. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  pastors:  F.  Reisener,  1851-3;  Rev.  Besel,  1853; 
Rev.  Rennecke,  1855-60;  K.  Schliepsick,  1860-3;  R-  Vogt,  1863-65;  J.  L. 
Muckel,  1865,  71;  J.  M.  Hahn,  1871-86;  J.  G.  Goehringer,  1886-90;  G.  Kehn, 
1890-1904';  Ph.  Wilhelm,  1904-9;  J.  G.  F.  Kleinhans,  1909  and  the  present 
incumbent. 

EVANGELICAL    IMMANUEL    LUTHERAN    CHURCH,    MT.    OLIVE. 

This  church  was  organized  October  2,  1881,  its  founder  being  Rev.  Herman 
Weisbrodt.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  charter  members :  H.  H.  Gehner,  C. 
Whitehouse,  M.  Manske,  C.  J.  Keiser,  L.  Kanke,  H.  Sies,  A.  Buske,  C.  Sass- 
mannshausen,  A.  Helmbold,  J.  Meier,  H.  Hoelmer,  C.  Mees,  F.  Pahde,  W. 
Ilsmemann,  W.  Mehl,  J.  H.  De  Werff,  H.  Renken,  W.  Gerdes,  G.  Degler,  W. 
Eggert,  H.  Pahde,  H.  Lucking,  M.  Arkebauer,  F.  Reuter,  Herman  Monke, 
Henry  Monke,  H.  Blanke,  W.  Hassheider,  W.  Gust,  R.  Collmann,  F.  Hittmeier 
and  F.  Falke. 

A  frame  church  was  erected  in  1881  and  in  1884  this  was  replaced  by  a  brick 
structure,  which  is  a  large  and  commodious  building.  Adjoining  this  structure 
is  a  brick  school  building,  which  was  erected  in  1895.  The  school  numbers  154 
pupils  and  three  teachers  employed.  The  congregation  also  owns  a  parsonage 
and  two  dwellings  for  teachers,  the  value  of  the  entire  property  being  $30,000. 
The  church  is  conveniently  located  on  Main  street  near  the  business  center  of 
the  town. 

The  list  of  pastors  follows:  Rev.  Herman  Weisbrodt,  1881-1900;  Rev.  C. 
Abel,  1900-11;  Rev.  C.  J.  Broders,  who  came  June  25,  1911  and  is  the  present 
pastor. 


- 


$1 


LlBrtAHY 

OK   IH£ 

UNIVERSHV  Of  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  233 

EVANGELICAL    LUTHERAN    ZION    CHURCH,    MX.    OLIVE. 

This  society  was  organized  in  1854  by  Rev.  Henry  Mueller,  assisted  by  Rev. 
Besel.  Services  were  held  in  private  homes  until  the  church  was  erected  in  1866. 
It  is  a  substantial  brick  structure  and  has  a  pipe  organ.  In  1886  a  parsonage  was 
built,  while  in  1894  a  substantial  brick  schoolhouse  was  erected  at  the  rear  of  the 
church.  Three  teachers  are  employed  in  the  school,  which  numbers  180  pupils, 
while  the  church  numbers  seven  hundred  communicants.  The  value  of  the 
buildings  which  include  the  church,  parsonage,  school  and  two  teachers'  resi- 
dences, is  about  $13,000. 

The  pastors  who  have  served  this  church  are:  Henry  Mueller,  1854-7;  Rev. 
Hohmann,  1857-9;  RCV-  Recker,  1859-64;  F.  W.  Eisenbach,  who  served  from 
1864  until  his  death,  August  23,  1872.  The  church  was  then  supplied  by  Rev. 
Schrader  until  1873,  when  H.  Weisbrodt  came  and  served  until  1881.  He  was 
succeeded  by  H.  Holtermann,  who  remained  until  1884,  while  his  successor  was 
Rev.  Knoll,  who  served  from  1884  until  his  death  in  1894.  In  the  latter  year 
Rev.  E.  Nottbohm  came  and  is  serving  at  the  present  time. 

GERMAN    EVANGELICAL   LUTHERAN    ZION's   CHURCH,    BUNKER   HILL. 

This  society  was  organized  in  1893  but  prior  to  that  time  the  people  of  this 
denomination  were  ministered  to  by  pastors  who  came  from  other  points  and 
held  services  in  private  homes.  In  the  same  year,  1893,  a  church  was  also  erected, 
which  is  a  small  frame  building,  in  the  rear  of  which  is  a  school  and  adjoining 
is  a  neat  parsonage,  the  cost  of  the  buildings  being  about  $4,000.  The  communi- 
cants number  225,  while  the  attendance  at  the  school  is  about  30. 

The  first  resident  pastor  was  Rev.  John  Holthusen,  who  came  in  1894  and 
remained  one  year;  1895-1900,  Charles  Park;  1900-02,  Martin  Kaeppel ;  1902, 
to  the  present  time,  1911,  August  Guebert. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 
EDUCATIONAL. 

SCHOOLS  FOLLOW  THE  SETTLER MACOUPIN   COUNTY  AT  A    HIGH   ALTITUDE  IN   HER 

EDUCATIONAL    INSTITUTIONS HISTORY   OF   THE   SCHOOLS    BY    COUNTY    SUPERIN- 
TENDENT  ROBERT    C.    MOORE BLACKBURN   COLLEGE. 

It  is  very  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  for  the  historian  to  determine  when  and 
where  any  institution  or  historical  movement  really  had  its  beginning.  This  is 
true  particularly  of  education,  which  has  to  do  with  the  growth  and  development 
of  the  human  mind.  Therefore,  if  we  were  to  attempt  to  trace  the  growth  and 
development  of  the  present  school  system  of  our  county  and  state  to  its  original 
germ,  we  would  likely  be  led  back  to  the  earliest  historical  ages,  or  to  the  time 
when  Adam  learned  a  great  .lesson  in  character  development  by  suffering  the 
consequences  of  evil  doing. 

But  suffice  it  to  say  that  many  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Illinois  brought  with 
them  the  idea  that  the  education  of  their  children  was  necessary,  at  least  to  the 
extent  of  teaching  them  to  read  and  write.  This  idea  had  been  transmitted  to 
them  from  the  earliest  settlers  on  the  shores  of  America,  and  especially  from  the 
settlers  along  the  shores  of  New  England.  These  settlers  had  come  willing  to 
endure  the  struggle,  toil,  and  suffering  necessary  to  conquer  a  wilderness  and  its 
savage  inhabitants  because  they  wished  to  worship  God  according  to  the  dictates 
of  their  own  consciences.  In  other  words,  they  had  fled  from  those  who  insisted 
upon  compelling  them  to  think  and  act  according  to  constituted  authority,  and 
had  settled  in  America  where  they  might  have  freedom  of  thought,  expression, 
and  action.  These  early  fathers  of  our  free  institutions  realized  that,  if  their 
children  were  to  be  able  to  preserve  and  develop  these  institutions,  they  must  be 
able  to  read,  to  write  and  speak  intelligently,  and  to  think  clearly  for  themselves ; 
or,  in  other  words,  they  realized  the  necessity  for  education.  Therefore,  schools 
and  colleges  were  founded  at  a  very  early  date  in  the  colonies,  and  the  idea  of 
public  education  very  naturally  developed  with  the  growth  of  our  other  institu- 
tions. 

Probably  the  first  official  statement  influencing  education  in  Illinois  was  con- 
tained in  Article  three  of  the  celebrated  Ordinance  of  1787,  which  planned  in  a 
general  preliminary  way  for  the  government  of  the  great  Northwest  Territory. 
This  statement  declared  that  "knowledge  is  necessary  to  good  government  and 
the  happiness  of  mankind"  and  enjoined  that  "schools  and  the  means  of  educa- 
tion shall  forever  be  encouraged."  This  Ordinance  was  promulgated  by  Congress 

234 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  235 

just  after  the  colonies  had  won  their  independence,  before  the  adoption  of  the 
national  constitution,  and  at  a  time  when  Congress  was  struggling  with  the 
problem  of  forming  one  national  government  out  of  several  quarreling  colonies. 
No  doubt,  under  these  circumstances,  the  author  of  the  clauses  quoted  above  had 
it  deeply  impressed  upon  his  mind  that  "knowledge  is  necessary  to  good  govern- 
ment," and  that,  if  the  several  weak,  quarreling  colonies  were  to  form  a  strong 
and  permanent  government,  they  must  be  made  up  of  intelligent  people. 

The  encouragement  urged  in  the  Ordinance  of  1787  took  a  concrete  form  in 
1818.  The  convention  which  framed  the  constitution  under  which  the  state  was 
admitted  accepted  in  August  of  that  year  a  proposition  made  by  Congress,  in  the 
"Enabling  Act"  for  this  state,  and  made  April  i8th,  appropriating  section  16  in 
each  township  in  the  state  for  the  use  of  the  inhabitants  of  said  township  for 
school  purposes ;  also  three-sixths  of  five  per  cent  of  the  proceeds  of  public  lands 
within  the  state  sold  by  Congress  after  January  i,  1819,  should  be  appropriated 
by  the  legislature  for  the  encouragement  of  learning.  One-sixth  of  this  amount 
was  to  be  applied  to  a  college  or  university,  and  thirty-six  sections,  or  one  entire 
township,  with  one  previously  reserved  for  that  purpose,  should  be  reserved  for 
the  use  of  a  seminary  of  learning.  In  1835  there  was  established  a  County  Fund, 
which  was  formed  from  certain  surplus  funds  in  the  hands  of  county  commis- 
sioners. In  1836  Congress  added  the  surplus  revenue  then  found  in  the  treasury, 
which  was  distributed  among  the  several  states  and  loaned  at  six  per  cent  interest. 
The  share  of  Illinois  amounted  to  $335,592.32.  The  interest  from  these  funds 
was  to  be  distributed  annually  to  the  counties  for  school  purposes.  The  names 
of  these  several  funds  and  their  respective  amounts  were  as  follows  in  1908: 
School  fund  proper  (from  sale  of  public  lands). . .  .$  613,362.96 

Surplus   revenue    335,592-32 

University  fund  641,477.53 

College  fund 156,613.32 

Seminary  fund 59,838.72 

County  fund 61,091.11 

Township  fund  (from  sale  of  i6th  section) 19,049,336.69 

The  most  valuable  donation  from  Congress  to  the  schools  was  the  sixteenth 
section  in  every  township.  The  act  provided  that,  if  this  section  had  been  sold 
or  if  a  fractional  township  did  not  contain  this  section,  lands  equivalent  in  area 
but  differently  located  were  to  be  given  for  school  purposes.  This  magnificent 
gift  amounted  to  nearly  one  million  acres.  At  the  present  time  when  we  are 
hearing  so  much  about  the  "conservation  of  our  resources  for  the  benefit  of  all 
the  people"  we  might  consider  this  gift  and  its  disposal  as  a  contrast  to  the  idea 
of  conservation.  Had  these  lands  been  retained  and  properly  managed  by  the 
public,  the  revenue  derived  from  them  would  have  released  the  people  from  local 
taxation  for  school  purposes  forever.  But  in  1828  the  legislature  authorized  the 
sale  of  these  lands  at  a  time  when  land  was  very  cheap,  and  they  were  nearly  all 
sold,  or  practically  given  away.  The  meager  proceeds  were  placed  under  the  con- 
trol of  a  board  of  trustees  elected  for  each  township  and  were  to  be  loaned,  and 
the  interest  was  to  be  used  for  the  support  of  the  schools.  But  the  income  thus 
received,  because  of  the  small  amounts  received  for  the  lands,  was  entirely  inade- 
quate to  support  the  schools,  and  taxes  had  to  be  added  by  act  of  the  legislature. 


236  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

In  many  districts  the  school  tax  now  amounts  to  half  or  more  than  half  the  total 
tax  paid.  But  a  few  townships  were  wise  enough  to  retain  the  title  of  the  school 
sections  in  the  name  of  the  people.  These  lands  are  rented  and  the  income  is 
distributed  to  the  districts  in  the  townships.  One  township  in  McLean  county 
derives  an  annual  income  of  nearly  $4,000  from  its  school  section.  This  is  more 
than  the  total  annual  expenditures  for  schools  in  some  of  the  townships  of  the 
state.  There  is  not  a  foot  of  this  township  land  left  in  Macoupin  county. 

DEVELOPMENT  OF  THE  SYSTEM. 

In  1824  Governor  Coles,  in  his  message  to  the  Legislature,  advised  that  pro- 
vision be  made  for  the  support  of  the  common  schools.  Accordingly  Senator 
Joseph  Duncan  of  Jackson  County  introduced  a  bill  to  establish  a  system  of  free 
schools.  Mr.  Duncan  is  recognized  as  the  founder  of  the  public  school  system 
in  Illinois,  and  the  system  that  his  bill  provided  for  was  in  advance  of  the  times. 
The  bill  was  introduced  in  1824  and  passed  January  15,  1825.  Some  of  its 
important  provisions  were  as  follows: 

1.  The  schools  were  to  be  open  to  every  class  of  white  citizens  between  the 
ages  of  five  and  twenty-one. 

2.  Persons  over  twenty-one  years  of  age  might  be  admitted  on  consent  of 
the  trustees  and  upon  agreed  terms. 

3.  Districts  of  not  less  than  fifteen  families  were  to  be  formed  on  petition 
of  a  majority  of  voters. 

4.  Certain  school  officers  were  to  be  elected  and  sworn  in. 

5.  The  legal   voters   at  an  annual  meeting  could  levy  a  tax   in  money  or 
merchantable  produce  at  cash  value  not  exceeding  one-half  of  one  percent,  sub- 
ject to  a  maximum  limitation  of  ten  dollars  for  any  one  person. 

6.  The  State  appropriated  annually  to  the  schools  two  dollars  out  of  every 
hundred  received  into  the  treasury.     Five-sixths  of  this  was  added  to  the  interest 
received  from  the  school  fund,  and  the  sum  was  apportioned  to  the  counties  ac- 
cording to  the  number  of  white  children  under  twenty-one  years  of  age.     The 
counties  distributed  this  among  the  districts,  but  no  district  was  to  receive  any 
part  of  this  fund  unless  it  had  sustained  a  school  of  three  months  for  the  year 
in  which  the  distribution  was  made.    This  distribution  was  based  upon  the  report 
of  the  clerk  of  each  county  commissioner's  court,  which  was  made  to  the  Sec- 
retary of  State  and  contained  an  abstract  of  the  reports  made  by  the  trustees  of 
schools,  giving  the  school  population,  school  attendance,  and  the  expenses  of  the 
schools. 

Any  progressive  movement,  even  if  it  is  just  and  for  the  good  of  a  majority 
of  the  people,  always  arouses  more  or  less  opposition.  So  enemies  of  this  law  at 
once  began  to  make  themselves  felt.  They  violently  opposed  the  public  school 
system  and  the  payment  of  taxes  to  support  it  and  questioned  the  legality  of  the 
appropriation  from  the  state  treasury  in  support  of  the  system.  This  opposition 
became  so  violent  and  powerful  that  the  law  became  inoperative  and  was  prac- 
tically annulled  by  an  act  approved  Feb.  17,  1827.  This  act  repealed  the  fifteen 
family  clause,  made  taxation  for  the  full  or  half  support  of  district  schools  op- 
tional with  the  voters  of  the  district,  and  forbade  the  taxation  of  any  one  for 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  237 

the  support  of  any  free  school  without  his  or  her  written  consent.  This  act 
proved  that  in  those  days  it  was  possible  to  elect  men  to  the  Legislature  who  were 
weak,  non-progressive,  or  ignorant.  Suffering  from  this  setback,  the  State 
entered  upon  a  period  of  about  twenty  or  twenty-five  years  which  might  be  called 
the  Dark  Ages  in  its  educational  history. 

But,  even  if  the  State  as  represented  in  the  Legislature,  was  not  willing  to 
keep  up  with  the  progressive  ideas  of  Joseph  Duncan,  the  idea  of  public  educa- 
tion was  deeply  implanted  in  the  minds  of  the  people  in  general,  and  their  de- 
mand for  more  and  better  schools  finally  began  to  result  in  more  liberal  laws. 
The  expression  of  these  demands  was  often  made  through  teachers  and  or- 
ganizations made  up  largely  of  teachers.  For  instance,  in  1844,  a  "Common 
School  Convention"  was  held  in  Peoria.  This  assembly  appointed  John  S. 
Wright,  H.  M.  Weed,  and  Thomas  Kilpatrick  as  a  committee  to  draft  a  memorial 
to  the  Legislature  on  the  subject  of  "common  schools."  The  paper  drawn  up 
by  them  was  an  able  and  exhaustive  one,  and  plead  for  a  State  Superintendent 
with  a  salary  of  nine  hundred  dollars  per  year,  and  recommended  local  taxa- 
tion for  school  purposes.  This  movement  among  the  teachers  brought  the  sub- 
ject of  public  education  again  to  the  attention  of  the  Legislature.  In  February, 
1845.  an  act  was  approved  which  contained  some  provisions  very  helpful  to  the 
schools.  It  made  the  secretary  of  state  ex-officio  state  superintendent  of  com- 
mon schools,  and  the  county  commissioners  ex-officio  county  superintendents,  one 
of  whose  duties  it  would  be  to  examine  and  license  teachers.  It  provided  for  local 
taxation  on  a  favorable  majority  vote  in  the  district.  It  contained  some  other 
provisions  designed  to  help  the  struggling  schools  of  the  state. 

But  the  opposition  to  the  system  was  still  strong  and  little  progress  was  made 
until  1855.  However,  during  the  intervening  decade,  the  opposition  gradually 
ceased,  a  few  helpful  laws  were  enacted,  and  a  healthy  school  sentiment  was  de- 
veloped. The  press  discussed  the  question  favorably,  and  many  ministers, 
teachers,  and  public  leaders  urged  the  necessity  for  better  educational  advan- 
tages. New  settlers  from  the  East  and  South  were  pouring  into  the  rich  prairies, 
bringing  with  them  advanced  ideas  of  education  and  a  craving  for  broader  in- 
tellectual opportunities  for  their  numerous  children.  Great  political  questions 
of  grave  import  were  being  discussed,  and  the  people  were  beginning  to  realize 
that  their  children,  the  future  citizens,  must  be  intelligent  and  educated  if  they 
were  to  settle  these  questions  so  as  to  give  justice  to  all  and  preserve  the  liberties 
guaranteed  in  the  constitution.  There  was  much  discussion  on  the  subject  of 
schools,  and  several  convocations  met  and  passed  resolutions  relative  to  public 
education. 

One  result  of  this  was  that  the  Legislature,  in  1854,  created  the  separate 
office  of  State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  with  a  salary  of  $1,500  per 
year.  This  office  has  since  that  time  been  one  of  the  greatest  importance  to 
the  state,  has  been  very  influential  for  the  good  of  the  schools,  and  has  been  a 
strong  factor  in  having  some  helpful  school  laws  placed  on  the  statute  books. 
The  salary  has  been  increased  at  intervals  until  it  is  now  $7,500.00  per  year. 
The  first  state  superintendent  was  to  be  appointed  by  the  Governor  and  was  to 
hold  his  office  until  his  successor  could  be  elected  and  qualified.  Accordingly, 
the  Governor  appointed  Hon.  Ninian  Edwards  as  the  first  State  superintendent 


238  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

under  this  act,  and  he  had  the  honor  of  framing  an  entirely  new  bill  for  a  Free- 
school  System.  This  bill  met  with  ready  acceptance  by  the  Legislature  and  was 
approved  February  15,  1855.  On  the  delicate  subject  of  taxation,  it  enforced 
the  collection  of  a  state  tax  of  two  mills  on  the  dollar  of  assessment,  to  be 
added  annually  to  the  revenue  already  provided,  and  also  provided  for  the  levy 
and  collection  of  local  taxes  for  the  support  of  schools.  This  law  was  too  full 
and  complete  to  give  even  a  synopsis  of  it  here. 

The  system  thus  inaugurated  was  the  first  which  really  made  schools  free  by 
providing  for  a  sufficient  state  and  local  tax  for  their  support  and  for  a  sufficient 
number  of  properly  related  officers  to  organize  and  enforce  the  system.  With 
some  alterations  and  amendments,  it  is  substantially  the  law  of  today. 

These  alterations,  additions,  and  amendments  have  been  made  at  intervals 
for  the  last  fifty  years,  and  a  few  years  ago,  it  was  noticeable  that  the  school 
laws  of  the  State  were  not  very  logically  organized  or  arranged.  This  chaotic 
form  of  the  law  caused  much  comment  on  the  part  of  teachers  and  others  in- 
terested in  it.  When  the  State  Teachers'  Association  met  in  Springfield  on 
December  26,  1906,  the  Governor  of  the  State,  Hon.  Charles  S.  Deneen,  opened 
the  proceedings  with  an  address  in  which  he  urged  the  association  to  adopt 
resolutions  requesting  the  General  Assembly  to  appoint  a  commission  to  codify 
the  school  law  which,  he  said,  had  "become  so  cumbersome  and  contradictory 
in  its  provisions  that  no  lawyer,  not  to  say  laymen,  pretends  to  know  and  under- 
stand it."  The  Association  passed  resolutions  in  accordance  with  the  Governor's 
suggestion,  and  the  result  was  that  the  next  General  Assembly  provided  for  the 
appointment  of  an  Educational  Commission  of  seven  members  of  which  the  state 
superintendent  should  be  ex-officio  chairman,  and  made  an  appropriation  of 
$10,000.00  to  pay  the  necessary  expense  of  the  commission.  The  Governor  ap- 
pointed the  commission  on  September  27,  1907.  The  State  superintendent  at 
that  time  was  the  man  who  is  still  serving.  Hon.  Francis  G.  Blair.  Under  his 
forceful  leadership,  the  commission  at  once  began  their  Herculean  task.  They 
not  only  made  a  careful  codification  of  the  old  law,  but  drew  up  several  new 
bills  embodying  some  of  the  advanced  educational  ideas  already  adopted  by 
some  of  the  most  progressive  states.  However,  only  two  of  the  bills  recom- 
mended by  the  commission  were  passed  by  the  General  Assembly;  one  of  them 
was  the  codification  bill,  and  the  other  was  a  bill  to  increase  the  county  super- 
intendents' salaries.  But  it  was  considered  a  great  step  in  advance  to  have  these 
two  bills  passed.  This  Commission  has  been  continued  up  to  the  present  and 
made  a  few  recommendations  and  prepared  a  few  bills  for  the  General  Assembly 
which  met  January,  1911.  One  of  their  recommendations  had  to  do  with  an 
increased  appropriation  from  the  state  for  the  support  of  the  schools.  It  seems 
that  the  "two  mill  tax"  provided  for  in  the  act  of  1855,  as  above  stated,  had  re- 
mained in  force  only  until  1873.  About  that  time,  the  Legislature  had  appro- 
priated a  lump  sum  of  one  million  dollars  "in  lieu  of  the  two  mill  tax."  This 
was  probably  an  equitable  arrangement  at  that  time,  as  the  valuation  of  the  prop- 
erty of  the  state  under  the  two  mill  tax  law  yielded  but  little  more  than  the  mil- 
lion dollars.  But  the  slogan  of  the  public  school  defenders  of  the  state  has 
always  been,  "The  property  and  wealth  of  the  whole  state  must  be  taxed  to  edu- 
cate all  the  children  of  the  state."  And  it  was  found  that  local  taxes  had  in- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  239 

creased  from  about  five  million  dollars  in  1870  to  over  twenty-three  millions  in 
1908,  while  the  appropriation  by  the  state  had  remained  at  one  million  dollars. 
Therefore  the  Educational  Commission  and  the  Teachers'  Associations  of  the 
state  felt  justified  in  asking  for  the  restoration  of  the  two  mill  tax,  which 
would  yield  about  four  and  a  half  million  dollars  at  present.  After  an  ener- 
getic campaign  before  the  committees  of  the  General  Assembly  by  the  Commis- 
sion and  many  school  officers,  an  appropriation  of  two  million  dollars  was  made, 
which  is  double  what  it  has  been  but  only  about  half  what  was  asked  for. 
However,  the  fight  will  go  on  for  a  more  liberal  appropriation  from  the  state 
to  the  schools.  The  appropriations  to  care  for  the  insane,  feeble-minded,  paupers, 
and  other  dependent  classes  of  the  state,  and  to  protect  society  from  the  criminals 
of  the  state  have  increased  enormously  in  the  last  twenty  years.  The  Educa- 
tional Commission  and  the  teachers  of  the  state  believe  that  the  best  way  to 
counteract  the  demands  for  these  appropriations  and  the  causes  for  them  is  to 
make  more  liberal  appropriations  to  the  schools. 

One  great  problem  always  before  the  superintendents  for  solution  is  the  prob- 
lem of  obtaining  a  sufficient  number  of  well  qualified  and  efficient  teachers.  Upon 
the  teachers  ultimately  depends  the  success  or  failure  of  the  entire  system.  The 
State  has  shown  a  willingness  to  help  solve  this  problem  by  establishing  profes- 
sional training  schools  for  teachers.  Five  of  these  State  Normal  Universities  are 
now  established  in  the  state,  and  the  State  University  at  Urbana  also  offers 
teachers'  courses.  The  names  of  the  State  Normal  schools,  their  location,  and 
the  date  of  the  acts  creating  them  are  as  follows : 

Illinois  State  Normal  University,  Normal,  1857. 

Southern  Illinois  Normal  University,  Carbondale,  1869. 

Northern  Illinois  Normal  University,  DeKalb,  1895. 

Eastern  Illinois  Normal  University,  Charleston,  1895. 

Western  Illinois  Normal  University,  Macomb,  1899. 

Two  of  these  universities  were  established  under  the  administration  of  Gov. 
Altgeld  in  1895.  Gov.  Altgeld  proved  himself  to  be  very  much  in  favor  of  public 
education,  and  much  was  done  in  his  administration  for  the  benefit  of  the  school 
children  of  the  state. 

The  hundreds  of  graduates  from  these  institutions  have  gone  abroad  in  the 
state  and  put  into  practice  the  practical  lessons  they  received.  Thousands  who 
did  not  stay  to  complete  the  entire  course  have  been  greatly  benefited  in  their 
work.  While  Macoupin  County  is  about  as  far  removed  from  any  of  these  insti- 
tutions as  any  county  in  the  state,  many  of  our  teachers  have  attended  them  and 
the  results  of  their  attendance  have  been  good.  During  the  summer  of  1910, 
about  sixty  from  this  county  were  in  attendance  at  the  various  universities,  and 
this  summer  (1911),  probably  an  equal  number  will  attend. 

Such  is  a  brief  review  of  the  development  of  the  public  school  system  of 
Illinois.  It  has  taken  almost  a  century  of  study  and  struggle  to  make  it  what  it 
is.  But  our  sturdy  citizens  have  thought,  and  planned  and  paid  their  taxes  and 
zealously  pushed  forward  to  better  things  in  education.  And  any  one  studying 
the  development  of  the  system  will  notice  that  it  has  advanced  with  a  constant 
acceleration.  It  is  natural  that  this  should  be  true;  for  the  better  the  schools  the 
higher  the  average  intelligence,  and  the  higher  the  intelligence  the  better  able  are 


240  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

the  people  to  perfect  the  educational  system.  Therefore,  we  may  face  the  future 
cheerfully,  trusting  and  believing  that  further  advances  will  be  made  and  that  the 
future  of  our  great  state  will  be  safe  in  the  hands  of  intelligent,  educated  citizens. 

PROGRESS  OF  EDUCATION    IN   THIS  COUNTY. 

The  progress  of  education  in  Macoupin  County  has  kept  pace  with  the  progress 
in  the  other  counties  and  deserves  special  mention  here.  One  of  the  first  things 
to  claim  the  attention  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  county  was  the  education  of  their 
children.  They  realized  that  these  children  would  be  the  future  citizens  of  a 
great  state  and  would  have  to  be  prepared  for  the  heavy  responsibilities  of  this 
citizenship.  Many  people  may  think  now  that  the  early  schools  were  indeed  poor 
and  inefficient,  but  we  must  remember  that  it  required  much  effort  and  self-sac- 
rifice on  the  part  of  our  early  settlers  to  have  schools  at  all.  But  they  did  the 
best  they  could  under  the  circumstances,  and  laid  the  foundation  for  the  splendid 
-educational  advantages  our  children  enjoy  today.  As  was  the  case  in  nearly  all 
new  countries,  one  great  impediment  to  early  education  in  this  county  was  the  lack 
of  well  qualified  teachers.  But  less  was  required  and  less  was  expected  of  the 
teachers  then  than  of  the  teachers  of  today.  There  were  no  Normals  nor  Train- 
ing Schools  for  teachers  in  the  state,  and  the  teachers  were  simply  the  better  edu- 
cated people  among  the  settlers  or  itinerant  Yankees  or  adventurous  college 
students  from  the  East.  The  school  houses,  the  furniture  and  equipment  were  of 
the  most  primitive  character.  The  houses  were  most  often  built  of  unhewn  logs 
and  covered  with  boards  held  in  place  by  weight  poles.  The  floor  consisted  of 
rough  puncheons,  or  more  often  of  the  bare  earth.  A  few  openings  were  left  in 
the  walls  by  cutting  out  short  lengths  of  the  logs  and  these  served  for  windows. 
In  bad  weather  oiled  paper  was  placed  over  these  openings  to  shut  out  the  wind 
and  snow  but  to  admit  a  little  light.  The  seats  were  usually  made  of  split  logs  or 
puncheons  with  wooden  pins  driven  into  augur  holes  to  serve  as  legs.  Similar 
logs  or  puncheons  placed  on  horizontal  pins  set  in  the  walls  served  as  writing 
desks.  A  rude  fireplace  in  one  end  of  the  building  baked  the  pupils  near  it  and 
left  those  in  the  distant  corners  to  shiver  on  cold  days.  About  all  the  studies 
that  were  attempted  in  these  early  schools  were  spelling,  reading,  and  writing, 
and  in  some  of  the  best  arithmetic  was  added. 

The  first  school  taught  in  Macoupin  County  was  conducted  by  William  Wilcox 
at  Staunton  in  1824.  He  boarded  around  among  his  patrons  and  received  in 
addition  $30.00  for  ten  weeks'  work  Mr.  Wilcox  continued  to  teach  there  at 
intervals  until  1827,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Roger  Snell,  who  had  come  to 
the  county  in  1821.  Mr.  I.  P.  Hoxsey  taught  at  the  same  place  in  1828,  Philip 
R.  Denham  in  1829,  and  Archibald  Hoxsey  in  1830.  The  first  school  in  the 
northwest  part  of  the  county  was  opened  in  1829.  In  the  summer  of  that  year 
and  again  in  1830,  a  school  was  taught  near  Apple  Creek  by  a  man  named  James 
Howard.  He  was  a  relative  to  the  Solomons,  who  were  early  settlers  in  that 
part  of  the  county  and  who  still  have  numerous  descendants  there,  several  of 
whom  have  been  teachers.  Mr.  Howard  was  a  native  of  New  York.  His  attain- 
ments were  good  for  that  day  and  he  was  considered  the  best  scribe  in  the  county 
at  that  time.  He  continued  to  teach  until  his  death  in  1864.  In  1829  a  gentleman 


The  overflow  at  Girard.  Both  cars  are 
crowded  with  people  listening  to  a  lecture, 
and  a  university  professor  is  lecturing  on 
soil  fertility  to  a  crowd  outside. 


School  is  out  at  Clark's  Siding.  The 
people  are  getting  off  the  cars  after  the 
lectures. 

VIRDEN     SCHOOL 


VIRDEN    SCHOOL 


VIHDEX    SCHOOL 


1TBLIC   SCHOOL   HlT[LDIX(i 
MEDORA 


OLD   HIGH    SCHOOL 
PALMYRA 

1'IASA    SCHOOL     BTILLMNG 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  241 

named  Scruggs  taught  a  school  in  the  southern  part  of  what  is  now  Scottville 
township  in  a  rude  school  house  on  the  south  side  of  Nigger  Lick  Creek.     In 

1831  a  Mr.  Richardson  taught  a  school  in  Bunker  Hill  in  a  small  house  near 
Mr.  Branscomb's  hat  factory.     Another  early  school  was  in  the  western  part  of 
the  county  near  Chesterfield  and  was  taught  in  1832  by  a  man  named  Anderson 
in  a  small  house  with  an  earth  floor.     It  is  said  that  this  school  was  very  ele- 
mentary in  its  character,  and  that  the  teacher  was  familiarly  known  among  his 
patrons  and  pupils  as  the  "Plug  teacher."     A  rude  log-house   was  erected   in 
Chesterfield  in  1834  and  a  school  was  opened  in  it  by  a  Mr.  Dooner,  who  was 
considered  a  great  improvement  over  the  "Plug  teacher." 

The  first  lady  teacher  named  in  the  records  of  the  county  was  Miss  Charlotte 
Sherman,  who  taught  school  in  Brighton  township  during  the  summer  of  1832. 
Mrs.  L.  P.  Stratton  taught  near  the  same  place  during  the  next  summer.  Miss 
Matilda  Thompson  was  employed  as  the  first  teacher  in  Dorchester  township  in 

1832  and  again  in  1833.     A  school  was  organized  in  Brushy  Mound  township  in 
1834  and  placed  in  charge  of  Mr.  Thomas  P.  Laws  as  teacher. 

These  were  the  first  schools  organized  in  Macoupin  County.  Although  they 
were  poor  as  compared  with  our  best  schools  now,  they  were  equal  to  the  demands 
of  the  people  and  were  the  foundation  of  the  liberal  and  extensive  school  system 
of  today.  The  growth  from  these  early  beginnings  was  gradual  but  steady  and 
in  accordance  with  the  encouragement  offered  by  the  liberal  school  laws  of  the 
state.  The  children  of  some  of  the  early  settlers  had  to  travel  several  miles  each 
day  to  attend  school,  but  school  houses  have  multiplied  in  number  until  now 
almost  all  the  children  of  the  county  are  within  easy  walking  distance  of  one  or 
more  school  houses.  In  fact  the  schools  have  become  almost  too  numerous  to  be 
properly  kept  up.  There  are  now  179  school  districts  in  the  county  and  184  differ- 
ent schools  employing  315  teachers  and  having  an  attendance  of  about  12,000 
pupils.  Although  we  often  hear  some  of  the  old  settlers  speak  of  the  wide  knowl- 
edge and  wonderful  proficiency  of  some  of  these  very  early  teachers,  we  believe 
that  the  improvement  of  the  teaching  force  of  the  county  has  kept  pace  with  the 
growth  of  the  schools.  Be  that  as  it  may,  we  can  truthfully  say  that  the  character 
and  scholarship  of  the  teachers  will  compare  favorably  with  that  of  the  teachers 
in  any  other  county  in  the  state.  The  teachers  of  this  county  have  been  greatly 
improved  by  institutes,  normal  drills,  and  attendance  at  the  State  Normal  Schools. 
County  teachers'  institutes  are  now  provided  for  by  the  state,  and  at  these  insti- 
tutes careful  attention  is  given  to  the  theory  and  art  of  teaching  and  the  proper 
management  of  schools. 

The  first  teachers'  institute  held  in  the  county  was  organized  in  Carlinville, 
September  16,  1857,  by  appointing  Rev.  J.  C.  Downer,  president,  pro  tern,  and 
D.  H.  Chase,  secretary,  pro  tern.  A  constitution  was  adopted  to  govern  its  delib- 
erations and  permanent  officers  were  elected,  as  follows :  L.  S.  Williams,  Presi- 
dent :  Leonard  Ledbrook  and  George  Mack,  Vice-Presidents ;  Lewis  Judd,  Treas- 
urer; James  Lee,  Secretary;  and  J.  M.  Cyrus,  O.  Blood,  and  W.  V.  Eldridge, 
Board  of  Directors  to  serve  one  year.  The  secretary  and  the  directors  were  to 
constitute  an  executive  committee.  Among  the  attendants  at  its  first  session 
were  J.  W.  Langley,  afterward  County  Judge  of  Champaign  County,  and  H.  M. 
Kimball.  Interesting  and  inspiring  addresses  were  delivered  at  the  first  session 


242  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

by  Rev.  J.  H.  Moore  and  J.  M.  Palmer,  LL.  D.  It  continued  to  hold  regular 
semi-annual  sessions  with  increasing  interest  up  to  December,  1870.  After  this 
time  the  sessions  were  annual  and  each  of  one  week's  duration  for  two  years 
when  it  gave  place  to  the  Macoupin  County  Normal,  an  organization  among  the 
teachers  of  the  county  for  self  improvement.  About  this  time  a  law  was  enacted 
by  the  legislature  raising  the  standard  of  qualifications  of  the  teachers  through- 
out the  state.  It  required  teachers  to  pass  a  satisfactory  examination  in  orthog- 
raphy, reading,  penmanship,  arithmetic,  English  grammar,  modern  geography, 
history  of  the  United  States,  the  elements  of  the  natural  sciences,  physiology, 
and  the  laws  of  health.  To  get  ready  to  meet  the  requirements  of  this  law,  the 
teachers  of  this  county  organized  the  County  Normal,  which  held  annual  sessions 
of  from  four  to  six  weeks  each  year  during  the  months  of  June  and  July  up  to 
about  1880.  Since  that  time  the  County  Normal  has  been  subject  to  the  call 
of  the  county  superintendent  and  has  been  held  at  intervals  of  from  two  to  four 
years  up  to  the  present,  but  attendance  at  the  State  Normal  schools  is  now 
taking  the  place  of  the  County  Normals.  In  these  early  County  Normals  the 
work  was  pretty  thoroughly  systematized  and  made  to  embrace  all  the  branches 
required  in  the  examination  for  county  and  state  certificates.  The  attendance 
has  always  been  good.  A  desire  for  self-improvement  has  always  been  a  char- 
acteristic of  Macoupin  County  teachers,  and  they  have  been  faithful  in  their  at- 
tendance at  Normals  and  Institutes.  The  County  Normal  Schools  have  always 
been  paid  for  by  the  teachers  attending  and  the  Institutes  were  up  to  1883, 
when  the  legislature  passed  an  act  requiring  each  applicant  for  a  certificate  or  a 
renewal  of  a  certificate  to  pay  a  fee  of  one  dollar.  These  several  fees  were  to 
be  called  the  institute  fund  and  were  to  be  used  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the 
annual  institutes. 

It  is  now  generally  recognized  that  the  success  and  efficiency  of  the  schools 
depend  largely  upon  the  work  of  the  County  Superintendent.  The  success  and 
organization  of  any  enterprise  depends  largely  on  the  zeal  and  energy  of  those 
under  whose  supervision  it  is  placed.  This  county  has  been  fortunate  in  hav- 
ing some  very  capable  school  men  at  the  head  of  its  system.  The  office  of  County 
Commissioner  was  first  filled  in  1833  by  appointment  of  the  court.  In  1865 
the  title  of  the  office  was  changed  to  that  of  County  Superintendent  of  Schools, 
and  the  term  of  office  was  extended  from  two  to  four  years.  Below  is  given  a 
list  of  the  names  of  men  who  have  served  as  commissioner  or  superintendent 
with  the  time  of  their  service : 

William  Miller,  1833-1839;  Daniel  Anderson,  1839-1846;  Enoch  Wall,  1846- 
1847;  Geo.  W.  Wallace,  1847-1849;  William  Weer,  1849-1851;  Geo.  B.  Hicks, 
1851-1855;  Lewis  Judd,  1855-1859;  Horace  Gwin,  1859-1861;  Charles  E.  Foote, 
1861-1869;  F.  H.  Chapman,  1869-1873;  John  S.  Kenyon,  1873-1877;  F.  W. 
Crouch,  1877-1881 ;  Geo.  W.  Grubb,  1881-1883  (died  in  office)  ;  Geo.  W.  Bower- 
sox,  1883-1886;  George  Harrington,  1886-1890;  Thos.  E.  Moore,  1890-1894; 
James  E.  McClure,  1894-1898;  M.  M.  Kessinger,  1898-1906;  Robert  C.  Moore, 
1906,  the  present  incumbent. 

In  the  early  days,  the  office  of  school  commissioner  or  superintendent  was 
considered  of  little  importance.  His  chief  duty  was  to  have  charge  of  the  school 
lands,  to  sell  them,  and  to  pay  the  proceeds  over  to  the  proper  officer.  A  striking 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  243 

evidence  of  the  lack  of  consideration  given  to  the  county  superintendent  and  his 
work  is  the  fact  that  as  late  as  1877  that  officer  was  limited  to  80  days  work  at 
$4.00  per  day.  Previous  to  that  time,  the  county  superintendent  was  us_ually 
a  teacher  who  gave  his  Saturdays  and  a  few  days  in  summer  to  his  official 
duties.  Another  evidence  is  the  fact  that  no  records  of  the  official  acts  of  the 
county  superintendent  previous  to  1885  can  now  be  found  in  the  office.  The 
educational  history  of  the  county  could  be  made  much  more  complete  if  all  the 
records  had  been  preserved. 

But  within  the  last  few  years,  the  legislature  has  recognized  the  importance 
of  the  office  and  the  necessity  of  having  it  filled  by  a  man  who  could  devote  all 
his  time  and  energies  to  his  official  duties.  Therefore,  the  General  Assembly 
passed  an  act  in  1905  repealing  the  per  diem  salary  law  and  providing  that  the 
counties  pay  an  annual  salary  to  the  county  superintendent.  These  salaries  varied 
according  to  the  three  different  classes  of  counties.  Macoupin  being  in  the  sec- 
ond class  paid  her  superintendent  $1,650  per  year  for  the  four  years  beginning 
with  the  term  of  R.  C.  Moore  in  1906.  Then  in  1909  an  act  was  passed  which 
provided  certain  salaries  according  to  the  population  of  the  counties  as  given  in 
the  census  reports  of  1900.  This  law  makes  the  present  salary  in  Macoupin 
County  $2,250.00  per  year.  But  almost  every  General  Assembly  has  added  also 
to  the  powers  and  duties  of  the  county  superintendent  and  placed  upon  him 
new  burdens  of  responsibility.  These  added  duties,  the  rapid  increase  in  the 
population  of  the  county,  and  the  new  demands  made  upon  the  office  by  a  people 
becoming  more  and  more  interested  in  education,  have  greatly  increased  the 
work  in  the  office  within  the  last  few  years.  The  county  board  of  supervisors, 
recognizing  this  fact,  unanimously  passed  a  resolution  in  1908  allowing  $600.00 
per  year  from  the  county  treasury  to  pay  for  assistance  in  the  office.  Miss  M. 
Bessie  Moore  has  been  the  regular  assistant  since  that  time,  but  at  the  times  of 
holding  the  pupils'  final  examination  and  some  of  the  teachers'  examinations,  it 
is  necessary  to  employ  several  more  assistants  for  a  few  days  at  a  time. 

Previous  to  1894,  the  county  superintendent's  office  was  frequently  moved 
from  room  to  room  wherever  it  would  be  least  in  the  way.  But  about  this  time, 
and  in  the  term  of  James  E.  McClure,  the  board  of  supervisors  provided  a  com- 
modious double  room  on  the  west  side  of  the  main  hall  of  the  court  house  as 
the  permanent  office  and  properly  furnished  it  according  to  the  needs  of  the 
work.  The  supervisors  for  several  years  back  have  shown  great  interest  in 
school  affairs  and  have  responded  to  all  reasonable  suggestions  by  the  super- 
intendent. 

Below  is  given  a  little  history  by  statistics.  These  figures  are  taken  from 
the  county  superintendents'  reports  to  the  state  superintendent  for  the  years 
1890,  1900,  and  1910,  and  will  give  an  idea  of  the  magnitude  and  growth  of 
the  school  business  in  this  county. 

1890.  IQOO  1910. 

No.  of  children  under  21  yrs.  of  age..          19,042  17,690  21,451 

No.   of   graded    schools 18  24  28 

No.   of   ungraded    schools 152  153  156 

Total    number   of   schools 170  177  184 

No.  of  pupils  in  graded  schools 4.003  4.3^2  6,657 


244 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 


1890.  1900.  1910. 

No.  of  pupils  in  ungraded  schools....            5,638  4,972  5,14S 

Total  No.  of  pupils  enrolled  in  schools           9,641  9,354  11,802 

Total  No.  days  Attend,  in  graded  Sch.      427,829  486,289  864,798 

Total  No.  days  Attend,  in  Ungrad.  Sch.      457,695  441,589  420,472 

Total  No.  days  Attend,  in  all  schools.       885,524  927,879  1,285,270 

Total  No.  of  months  taught 1,627  1,819  2,367 

No.  of  male  teachers  employed 119  87  65 

No.  of  female  teachers  employed 154  185  249 

Total  No.  of  teachers  employed 273  272  314 

Highest    monthly    wage    paid    male 

teacher $125.00  $133.00  $150.00 

Highest     monthly     wage    paid     female 

teacher  .  .   .    $60.00  $60.00  $90.00 

Lowest      monthly      wage      paid      male 

teacher $23.00  $20.00  $38.00 

Lowest     monthly     wage     paid     female 

teacher $20.00  $18.00  $24.00 

Average   monthly   wage,   male   teachers.      $49.13  $48.76  $69.76 
Average    monthly    wage    paid    women 

teachers $38.72  $34-59  $42-99 

Whole  amount   paid  to  teachers $70177.00  $71400.00  $114030.00 

Number  of  high  schools i  2  10 

No.  of  boys  enrolled  in  high  schools.  .  .                 31  49  200 

No.  of  girls  enrolled  in  high  schools. ...                 47  86  249 

Total  No.  of  pupils  in  high  schools.  ...                 78  135  449 

Amount  paid  high  school  teachers....     $1050.00  $2940.00  $15013.00 

Taxes   levied   by   districts $82428.00  $82489.00  $174280.00 

Amount    received    from    State $11590.00  $10256.00  $820000 

Amount   received   from   fines $265.00  $98.00  $143.00 

Income   from   township    funds $3064.00  $2794.00  $2001.00 

Paid  for  new  school  houses $814.00  $1341.00  $22503.00 

Paid  for  repairs  and  improvements...     $4997.00  $4249.00  $9727.00 

Paid  for  furniture  and  apparatus $1916.00  $2111.00  $4699.00 

Total  school  expenses  during  year. ..  .$100700.00  $100378.00  $204295.00 

Total  value  of  township   funds $46473.00  $45572.00  $45586.00 

Total  value  of  school  property $209320.00  $197170.00  $446125.00 

Total  value  of  school  apparatus $5956.00  $10149.00  $13820.00 

No.  of  volumes  in  district  libraries.  .  .  .            1,198  998  9,046 

County  superintendent's  salary $1547.00  $1569.00  $1650.00 

Cost   of   teachers'    institutes $581.00  $234.00  $333.00 

HELPS   IN  ORGANIZATION   AND  SUPERVISION. 


In  a  large  and  populous  county  such  as  Macoupin  it  is  very  difficult  for  the 
county  superintendent  to  closely  supervise  all  the  schools.  The  schools  are  so 
numerous  and  are  scattered  over  such  a  wide  territory  that  his  visits  are  few  to 
each  school.  Therefore,  it  is  necessary  to  adopt  all  possible  means  to  organize 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  245 

the  work  according  to  some  definite  system  and  then  to  enlist  all  the  teachers 
and  school  officers  in  an  effort  to  make  the  system  effective  in  results. 

Probably  nothing  has  been  more  helpful  to  the  superintendent  nor  more 
productive  of  good  results  in  the  rural  schools  than  the  State  Course  of  Study. 
The  closer  supervision  of  the  schools  which  led  to  the  development  of  the  pres- 
ent Course  of  Study  had  its  beginning  in  Macon  County  about  1879  or  1880, 
with  John  Trainer,  County  Superintendent  of  Schools  in  that  county.  His  work 
soon  spread  into  Piatt  and  Champaign  counties  and  grew  into  what  served  for  a 
time  as  a  course  of  study  for  those  counties.  As  time  passed  and  the  idea  de- 
veloped, new  courses  embodying  special  features  appeared  in  various  counties 
in  the  State.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Central  Illinois  Teachers'  Association  at 
Jacksonville  in  March,  1889,  the  friends  of  the  plan  discussed  the  advantages  of 
a  State  Course,  and  at  their  solicitation,  Hon.  Richard  Edwards,  Superintendent 
of  Public  Instruction,  issued  a  call  to  county  superintendents  and  other  leading 
educators  of  the  state  to  meet  in  Springfield,  April  10,  1889,  to  discuss  the 
subject.  As  a  result  of  the  meeting  a  committee  consisting  of  five  county  super- 
intendents was  appointed  to  compile  a  course  of  study  for  the  State,  consisting 
of  eight  years'  work,  eight  months  to  each  year.  This  course  was  completed  and 
published  in  time  for  the  opening  of  the  schools  in  September  of  that  year. 
One  edition  was  issued  by  the  State  Department  of  Education.  It  was  used 
in  most  of  the  counties  of  Illinois,  and  also  in  some  counties  in  every  state  west 
of  New  Jersey  to  the  Pacific  coast.  It  continued  in  use  in  the  original  form 
until  1894,  when  it  was  revised  by  a  committee  appointed  by  the  State  Teach- 
ers' Association.  Since  that  time  it  has  been  revised  and  added  to  every  four 
years  until  it  has  now  become  a  full  and  complete  outline  of  all  the  work  to  be 
done  during  the  first  eight  years  of  the  pupil's  life.  It  contains  complete  out- 
lines for  the  elementary  study  of  the  following  subjects :  reading,  spelling, 
language,  grammar,  numbers  and  construction  work,  arithmetic,  writing,  geog- 
raphy, history  of  the  United  States  and  of  Illinois,  civics,  physiology  and  hygiene, 
music,  drawing,  morals  and  manners,  agriculture,  household  arts,  and  wood- 
working. 

It  contains  also  many  helpful  suggestions  to  teachers,  a  model  country  school 
program,  outlines  of  high  school  courses,  etc.  Its  general  purpose  is  to  outline 
the  work  in  each  branch  for  each  month  in  the  school  year  in  a  logical,  orderly 
way  and  thus  set  up  a  standard  for  the  guidance  of  the  teachers  and  pupils.  It 
serves  also  to  unify  the  work  in  the  different  schools. 

This  course  was  introduced  into  Macoupin  county  in  1888  by  County  Super- 
intendent George  Harrington.  It  met  with  considerable  opposition  by  many 
teachers  and  school  officers,  but  the  superintendent  was  persistent  in  promoting 
its  adoption.  By  the  time  his  term  expired,  it  was  in  use  in  nearly  all  the  rural 
schools  and  in  some  of  the  village  schools  in  the  county.  Since  that  time  all  the 
superintendents  have  taken  advantage  of  this  effective  help  in  organization,  and 
the  State  Course  of  Study  is  now  followed  by  all  the  rural  and  village  schools 
and  is  made  the  basis  of  the  plans  of  work  in  all  the  city  schools. 

Another  thing  that  has  helped  to  systematize  and  unify  the  work  in  the  county 
is  the  adoption  of  a  uniform  series  of  text  books.  Superintendent  Kessinger 
first  tried  this  plan  by  recommending  a  list  of  text  books  for  uniform  use  in  the 


246  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

county.  His  list  was  adopted  in  nearly  all  the  schools  and  was  used  until  1908. 
Then  county  superintendent  R.  C.  Moore  recommended  a  list  which  varied  some 
from  the  former  list  but  which  was  adopted  in  about  95  per  cent  of  the  schools 
and  is  still  in  use  in  1911.  The  benefits  arising  from  this  plan  are  many  and 
criticism  of  it  has  ceased. 

In  order  to  keep  in  touch  with  the  work  in  the  schools  and  to  give  the  teach- 
ers and  pupils  ideas  of  what  he  expects  of  them,  the  superintendent  uses  a  sys- 
tem of  examinations  and  reports.  Every  two  months  during  the  school  year  he 
sends  a  complete  set  of  examination  questions  to  every  teacher  in  the  county  and 
sets  a  day  for  the  examination  or  written  review.  On  that  day  the  teachers  give 
the  pupils  the  work  sent  by  the  superintendent  and  requires  of  them  written 
answers.  These  papers  filed  by  the  pupils  are  carefully  graded,  the  grades  are 
recorded,  and  reports  of  them  are  sent  to  the  parents.  Near  the  end  of  the 
school  year,  or  about  April  first,  a  final  examination  is  held  at  Carlinville  for 
the  pupils  who  have  finished  the  eight  grades  of  elementary  work  according  to 
the  State  Course  of  Study.  This  is  participated  in  by  two  hundred  to  three 
hundred  pupils  from  all  parts  of  the  county  each  year  and  the  rivalry  for  high 
honors  is  keen.  In  1911,  two  hundred  sixty  pupils  took  this  examination  and 
one  hundred  sixty-five  made  passing  grades.  On  Thursday  evening  of  institute 
week  each  year,  the  County  Eighth  Grade  Graduating  Exercises  are  held  at  the 
court  house,  and  the  pupils  who  passed  the  examination  are  given  diplomas  which 
admit  them  to  any  of  the  high  schools  in  the  county.  Those  who  make  the 
highest  grade  in  their  respective  townships  are  given  Normal  Scholarships  pro- 
vided for  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  approved  May  12,  1905.  These  scholar- 
ships entitle  the  holders  to  gratuitous  instruction  in  any  of  the  State  Normal 
Schools  for  a  period  of  four  years  and  exempts  them  from  the  payment  of  any 
tuition,  term,  and  matriculation  fees.  This  plan  of  holding  bimonthly  and  final 
examinations  was  adopted  about  the  time  of  adopting  the  State  Course  of 
Study,  has  been  improved  upon  from  time  to  time,  and  has  grown  constantly 
in  usefulness  and  results. 

In  1908,  County  Superintendent  Moore  introduced  the  plan  of  having  speci- 
mens of  school  work  sent  to  his  office  by  each  teacher.  Paper  of  uniform  quality 
and  size  is  furnished  the  schools  by  the  superintendent  and  is  returned  to  him  in 
the  spring  covered  with  specimens  of  the  work  done  by  the  pupils.  This  work 
is  filed  in  the  superintendent's  office  for  the  inspection  of  the  public,  and  about 
twelve  hundred  sheets  of  it  are  hung  up  each  year  in  the  room  where  the  county 
institute  is  held.  This  arouses  much  discussion  on  the  part  of  teachers  and 
enables  them  to  exchange  many  helpful  ideas. 

About  1901,  a  plan  for  encouraging  regular  attendance  and  punctuality  in 
the  rural  schools  was  adopted  in  this  county.  Certificates  of  Perfect  Attendance 
signed  by  the  county  superintendent  are  furnished  to  the  rural  teachers.  These 
are  signed  by  the  teachers  and  given  to  the  pupils  who  are  neither  absent  nor 
tardy  for  a  full  month.  When  any  pupil  has  obtained  six  of  these,  he  may  send 
them  to  the  county  superintendent  and  receive  for  them  a  larger  and  more  beau- 
tiful Certificate  of  Award,  and  when  he  has  obtained  three  of  the  latter,  he  may 
exchange  them  for  a  large  engraved  Diploma  of  Honor,  which  signifies  that  he 
has  been  absolutely  perfect  in  attendance  for  18  months.  During  the  term 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  247 

from  1906  to  1910,  the  county  superintendent  issued  over  twenty  thousand  cer- 
tificates of  perfect  attendance,  over  two  thousand  certificates  of  award,  and 
nearly  three  hundred  diplomas  of  honor.  The  teachers  assert  that  the  plan  is 
very  helpful  in  securing  regular  attendance. 

At  intervals  of  two  or  three  months,  the  county  superintendent  issues  printed 
circulars  to  the  teachers  giving  them  his  plans  for  the  year  and  calling  their  at- 
tention to  certain  phases  of  the  work.  Once  or  twice  a  year  he  addresses  a  cir- 
cular to  each  board  of  directors,  calling  their  attention  to  certain  duties  and  sug- 
gesting certain  lines  of  improvement.  These  circulars,  many  personal  letters,  the 
visits  to  the  schools  by  the  superintendent,  and  the  addresses  made  by  him  at 
educational  meetings  keep  up  a  close,  working  relation  between  him  and  the 
teachers  and  school  officers  of  the  county.  The  annual  institute,  the  autumn 
meeting  of  the  Teachers'  Association,  and  the  various  local  institute  meetings 
also  give  the  superintendent  opportunities  for  discussing  plans  with  the  teachers 
and  for  promoting  the  adoption  of  new  and  helpful  ideas. 

BUILDINGS,  GROUNDS,  AND  EQUIPMENT. 

It  is  a  long  step  from  the  first  one-room  log  school-house  with  its  fireplace, 
puncheon  seats,  and  earth  floor  to  one  of  the  latest  improved  high  school  build- 
ings, such  as  the  one  at  Staunton.  This  building  is  of  stone  and  brick,  with  a 
slate  roof,  furnace  heat,  modern  systems  of  lighting  and  ventilation,  sanitary 
sewerage,  etc.  It  has  a  large  assembly  room  furnished  with  individual  folding 
seats  and  desks,  slate  blackboards,  piano,  bookcases,  laboratories,  recitation 
rooms,  electric  lights  and  signal  system,  and  other  modern  conveniences.  But  a 
general  improvement  in  school  buildings  and  equipment  has  resulted  from  the 
progressive  spirit  of  our  people,  and,  although  this  county  still  contains  some 
poorly  equipped  and  antiquated  buildings,  most  of  the  districts  have  comfortable 
and  well  furnished  buildings.  The  public  intelligence  is  beginning  to  realize  that 
the  physical  and  the  spiritual  nature  of  the  child  are  being  developed  at  school 
as  well  as  his  mental  powers,  and  that  it  is  as  necessary  for  him  to  have  com- 
fortable, sanitary,  and  beautiful  surroundings  as  it  is  for  him  to  have  good  books 
to  study  and  good  teachers  to  give  instruction.  In  response  to  this  idea,  many 
improvements  are  being  made  in  buildings,  grounds,  and  equipment.  The  grounds 
of  some  schools  are  being  extended  to  larger  size,  trees  and  shrubs  are  being 
planted,  and  walks  and  better  outhouses  constructed.  Many  of  the  old  buildings 
are  being  remodeled  and  several  new  buildings  are  being  erected  according  to 
modern  plans.  As  an  example  of  what  was  done  in  one  year,  we  will  describe 
what  was  done  in  the  building  line  in  1910.  Palmyra  vacated  their  old  frame 
building  and  erected  a  beautiful  and  substantial  four  room  building  of  brick  and 
cement.  Workman  District,  No.  31,  built  an  excellent  new  building,  as  did  Rural 
Mt.  Olive  District  No.  60,  Centerview  District  No.  33,  Oakland  District  No.  74, 
Boston  Chapel  District  No.  38,  and  Rural  District  No.  72.  The  last  two  named 
may  be  briefly  described  as  types  of  what  rural  school  buildings  ought  to  be. 

The  Boston  Chapel  building  is  of  brick  and  cement  and  has  a  slate  roof  and 
steel  ceiling.  It  has  a  basement  under  the  entire  building,  and  this  basement  has 
a  cement  floor  and  contains  a  fuel  room  and  a  play  room  for  the  children.  In 


248  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

front  of  the  school-room  are  an  entry  and  cloak  rooms,  and  a  stairway  leads 
from  the  entry  to  the  basement.  The  large  airy  school-room  is  properly  fur- 
nished, heated,  lighted,  and  ventilated. 

The  Rural  school  building  in  district  72  is  a  frame  building  and  consists  of 
six  rooms  and  a  small  front  porch  on  the  west.  From  this  porch  a  doorway  leads 
into  a  small  hall  which  opens  directly  ahead  into  the  main  school-room,  and  on 
either  side  into  the  cloak  rooms,  one  for  the  boys  and  one  for  the  girls.  These 
cloak  rooms  also  open  by  doorways  into  the  main  school-room.  In  the  school- 
room, the  pupils  sit  with  their  right  sides  to  the  entrance  doors  on  the  west  and 
facing  the  south  wall,  which  is  solid  and  has  a  slate  blackboard  extending  its  full 
length.  The  east  wall  contains  five  large  windows,  which  admit  an  abundance  of 
light  to  the  left  of  the  pupils.  To  the  rear  of  the  pupils  and  on  the  north  side 
of  the  main  room  are  two  other  small  rooms.  One  of  these  is  entered  through 
an  arched  opening  and  is  used  as  a  library  room.  It  contains  some  shelving  and 
is  lighted  by  two  windows.  The  other  room  is  a  fuel  room  and  is  entered 
through  a  door  opening  directly  from  the  school-room  and  near  the  heater. 
This  heater  is  really  a  hot  air  furnace  and-a  ventilator  combined.  The  steel  stove 
is  surrounded  by  a  jacket  with  an  air  space  of  about  eight  inches  between  them. 
A  fresh  air  inlet  comes  through  the  wall  from  outside  and  admits  cold,  pure 
air  to  the  furnace  inside  the  jacket.  This  air  is  heated  and  rises  to  the  top  of 
the  room  and  circulates  to  all  parts  of  the  room  driving  out  the  foul  air  through 
the  foul  air  extractor,  which  is  a  pipe  about  ten  inches  in  dameter  opening  near 
the  floor  and  passing  out  with  the  smoke-pipe.  This  system  of  heating  and  ven- 
tilating is  found  to  be  very  beneficial  to  the  health  and  vitality  of  the  pupils 
and  teacher  and  to  increase  their  working  efficiency  quite  materially.  The  school- 
room is  furnished  with  fifty  single  seats  and  desks  properly  arranged  to  suit 
the  convenience  of  pupils  of  different  sizes.  The  building  is  surmounted  by  a 
belfry  containing  a  clear-toned  bell,  is  surrounded  by  a  yard  containing  several 
trees,  and  has  many  other  commendable  features.  Its  cost  as  now  furnished 
was  about  eighteen  hundred  dollars. 

Many  other  schools  have  recently  made  very  creditable  improvements  in 
their  furniture  and  apparatus.  About  fifteen  of  the  sanitary  heating  and  ven- 
tilating systems  described  above  have  been  installed,  several  rooms  have  been 
furnished  with  new  single  seats,  and  a  large  number  of  library  books  have  been 
purchased.  Almost  every  rural  school  now  has  at  least  a  small  library  of  books 
of  reference  and  of  general  literature.  Most  of  these  are  chosen  from  the  list 
of  books  recommended  by  the  State  Pupils'  Reading  Circle  Board.  Much  needed 
apparatus  has  been  bought,  such  as  maps,  globes,  primary  helps,  measures,  dic- 
tionaries, clocks,  organs,  etc. 

State  Superintendent  F.  G.  Blair  has  introduced  a  plan  for  encouraging 
improvement  in  the  rural  schools.  In  the  summer  of  1909  he  issued  a  pamphlet 
entitled  "The  One-Room  Country  Schools  of  Illinois"  in  which  he  gave  his  ideas 
of  what  a  country  school  ought  to  be  and  how  it  should  be  organized  and 
equipped.  This  pamphlet  was  furnished  in  large  numbers  to  the  County  Super- 
intendent and  a  copy  was  sent  to  each  board  of  directors  in  the  county.  It  con- 
tained chapters  on  the  school  building,  heating,  lighting,  ventilation,  seating,  re- 
pairing old  buildings,  furnishings,  sanitation,  country  school  supervision,  or- 


Rural   School.   No.   72.    Front    View 
Rural   School.  No.   7:2.    Interior    View 

Standard   Scliool   in   Kolilev   District.  No.  71 


Rural    School.-    No.    72.    Rear    View 
Standard    School,    Prairie    Dale 

District.  No.  3 

An    Excellent  School  Building  in  Ball 
District.  No.  2 


LIBRARY 

Gt-   IHt 

OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  249 

ganization  and  devices,  the  teacher  and  her  work,  and  The  Standard  One-Room 
School.  Under  this  last  topic,  he  described  fully  what  is  necessary  to  make  up 
a  Standard  School.  During  the  following  school  term,  he  sent  an  assistant,  Mr. 
U.  G.  Hoffman,  to  several  counties  to  visit  country  schools  with  the  county 
superintendent  and  to  make  inspection  records  of  his  visits  to  the  several  schools. 
This  record  covered  a  complete  description  of  the  grounds,  buildings,  furnish- 
ings and  supplies,  organization,  and  teacher.  If  the  school  graded  perfect  in  all 
the  details  of  these  factors,  the  inspector  so  reported  to  the  State  Superintend- 
ent, who  issued  to  the  school  a  diploma  stating  that  it  was  recognized  as  a 
Standard  School.  If  the  school  was  found  to  be  deficient  in  some  points,  the 
inspector  so  reported  to  the  county  superintendent,  the  teacher,  and  the  direc- 
tors and  requested  them  to  use  their  best  efforts  to  make  the  necessary  improve- 
ments. Mr.  Hoffman  visited  two  days  with  County  Superintendent  Moore  in 
February,  1910,  and  inspected  eight  or  nine  schools.  But  this  inspection  resulted 
in  issuing  but  one  diploma  that  year.  Prairie  Dale  School  in  District  3,  with 
Miss  Mary  Bleauer  as  teacher,  soon  arranged  everything  just  as  it  should  be, 
and  was  given  a  diploma  as  a  standard  school.  This  diploma  was  renewed  in 
March,  1911,  and  the  progressive  directors  in  that  district  will  probably  see  that 
it  is  renewed  each  succeeding  year. 

Since  1910,  Mr.  Hoffman  has  furnished  the  inspection  blanks  to  the  county 
superintendent  and  had  him  to  make  the  inspection  records.  These  records  are 
sent  to  the  state  office  and  acted  upon  there.  Two  more  schools  were  thus 
standardized  in  1911.  The  first  of  these  was  the  Robley  School  in  District  No. 
71,  with  Miss  Nell  Head  as  teacher.  This  is  one  of  the  best  equipped  schools 
to  be  found  anywhere  and  has  a  board  of  directors  who  will  keep  making  the 
improvements  and  repairs  necessary  to  retain  their  diploma. 

The  other  Standard  School  is  in  the  Miller  District,  No.  6.  Miss  Lottie 
Burdsal  was  the  teacher  there,  and  she  and  her  pupils  and  the  directors  all 
worked  hard  to  meet  the  requirements  for  standardizing  their  school  before 
the  close  of  the  term. 

This  plan  is  attracting  the  attention  of  many  of  the  directors  and  others 
interested  in  rural  schools,  and  plans  are  being  made  to  standardize  several 
other  schools. 

HIGH   SCHOOLS. 

Probably  the  most  noticeable  evidence  of  educational  progress  in  Macoupin 
County  in  recent  years  is  the  development  of  the  high  schools  in  the  cities  and 
villages.  Thirty  or  forty  years  ago,  if  the  young  student  wanted  to  advance  in 
his  studies  beyond  what  is  now  the  eighth  grade  of  the  common  schools,  his 
parents  must  be  able  to  send  him  to  some  academy  or  college.  These  colleges 
were  most  often  private  or  sectarian  schools  and  were  at  such  a  distance  as  to 
take  the  youth  away  from  home  at  just  the  age  when  he  most  needed  the  good 
influences  of  the  home.  MoFt  boys  and  girls  could  not  afford  to  go  at  all,  and 
were  thus  prevented  from  obtaining  anything  beyond  an  elementary  education. 
But  now  all  the  cities  and  most  of  the  villages  have  high  school  courses  varying 
in  length  from  ore  to  four  years.  The  better  of  these  courses  offer  about  the 
things  that  made  up  the  college  courses  a  few  years  ago,  and  the  work 


250 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 


done  according  to  them  is  of  such  excellence  as  to  be  fully  accredited  at  the 
Illinois  State  University.  The  course  of  the  Carlinville  high  school  for  1910-11 
may  be  taken  as  a  type  of  the  courses  in  the  accredited  schools.  It  is  as  follows : 


FIRST  SEMESTER 
FIRST  YEAR 

Periods 
Required  per  week 

English  1 5 

Algebra  1 5 

Elective 

Latin  1 5 

Drawing   3 

Music    2 

Physical  Geography   5 

SECOND  YEAR 

Required 

English  II 5 

Plane  Geometry 5 

Elective 

Latin  II 5 

Ancient   History 5 

Zoology  5 

THIRD  YEAR 

Required 

English   III 5 

English    History 5 

Elective 

Latin   III 5 

German  1 5 

Chemistry 5 

Algebra  II 5 

FOURTH  YEAR 

Required 

Physics    7 

Civics    5 

Elective 

English  IV 5 

Latin    IV 5 

German  II 5 

Commercial  Arithmetic 5 


SECOND  SEMESTER 


FIRST  YEAR 


Periods 
per  week 


Required 

English   1  ....................  5 

Algebra  1  ....................  5 

Elective 

Latin  1  ......................  5 

Drawing   ....................  3 

Music    ......................  2 

Botany    .....................  5 

SECOND  YEAR 

Required 

English  II  ...................  5 

Plane  Geometry  ..............  5 

Elective 

Latin   II  .....................  5 

Ancient   History  ..............  5 

Physiology    ..................  5 

THIRD  YEAR 

Required 

English    III  ..................  5 

American    History  ............  5 

Elective 

Latin    III  ....................  5 

German  1  ....................  5 

Chemistry  ...................  5 

Solid  Geometry  ...............  5 

FOURTH   YEAR 

Required 

Physics    .....................  7 

Elective 

English  IV  ...................  5 

Latin    IV  ....................  5 

German  II  ...................  5 

Political    Economy  ............  5 

Book-keeping  ................  5 

Trigonometry    ...............  5 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  251 

Sixteen  units  of  work  are  required  for  graduation. 

A  unit  of  High  School  work  is  represented  by  a  year's  work  in  a  subject,  with 
five  recitations  a  week. 

For  a  term's  work  in  Drawing,  Music,  or  Rhetoricals  a  credit  of  J4  unit  is 
given.  In  any  other  branch,  a  term's  work  is  worth  y2  unit. 

Not  more  than  one  unit  of  rhetorical  work  will  be  accepted  toward  graduation. 

No  pupil  will  be  allowed  to  take  less  than  15,  nor  more  than  20  recitations 
per  week,  nor  to  select  his  work  from  different  years,  without  permission. 

No  class  will  be  formed  for  fewer  than  five  pupils. 

A  brief  outline  is  here  given  of  the  development  of  some  of  the  high  schools, 
and  the  pictures  of  a  few  of  the  buildings  are  given. 

High  school  work  was  begun  in  Virden  about  1880,  and  the  course  has  been 
extended  and  improved  until  in  1890  it  was  accredited  by  the  State  University 
and  has  remained  on  the  accredited  list  since.  Some  of  the  superintendents  who 
have  had  charge  of  this  school  for  two  or  more  years  each  were  as  follows: 
Henry  Higgins,  Wm.  E.  Evans,  P.  M.  Silloway,  Milo  Loveless,  F.  E.  Kennedy, 
Josiah  Main,  J.  C.  Walters,  and  J.  Carl  Stine.  Supt.  Silloway  had  charge  of  this 
school  for  several  years  about  1890  and  then  left  to  teach  in  some  western  state, 
but  returned  in  1909  and  has  again  had  charge  for  the  last  two  years.  The  total 
number  of  graduates  from  this  school  is  two  hundred  thirty-eight. 

Girard  began  to  have  high  school  work  in  1890  and  was  placed  on  the  ac- 
credited list  in  1906.  Some  of  the  superintendents  who  have  helped  build  up 
this  school  were  E.  L.  Howett,  J.  I.  Taylor,  S.  H.  Tilden,  F.  E.  Kennedy,  Hey- 
wood  Coffield,  F.  E.  Wolfe,  and  W.  F.  Grotts.  The  total  number  of  graduates 
is  one  hundred  seventy. 

Carlinville  introduced  some  high  school  work  into  its  course  in  1885,  and 
extended  and  improved  its  course  from  time  to  time  until  it  was  placed  on  the 
accredited  list  several  years  ago.  It  now  has  four  teachers  in  the  high  school 
besides  the  superintendent.  The  men  at  the  head  of  this  school  have  been  George 
Harrington,  R.  B.  Anderson,  E.  H.  Owen,  J.  E.  Wooters,  and  H.  A.  Perrin. 
Some  of  the  high  school  teachers  have  been  Annie  E.  Otwell,  Agnes  Fitzgerald,  A. 
M.  Horine,  Catherine  A.  Kelley,  Margaret  Hubbard,  Ida  C.  Turnbull,  and  Stella 
Surman.  Altogether  about  345  students  have  graduated  from  this  school. 

Gillespie  introduced  a  two  year  high  school  course  into  its  system  in  1893, 
and  changed  it  to  a  four  year  course  in  1905.  The  superintendents  have  been 
Rosa  Burke,  F.  L.  Hoehn,  A.  C.  Stice,  and  George  W.  Soloman.  Eighty-four 
have  received  diplomas  from  this  school.  Gillespie  has  had  a  very  rapid  growth 
in  the  last  few  years  and  the  board  of  education  has  had  a  difficult  problem  in 
providing  school  facilities  for  the  rapidly  increasing  number  of  school  children. 
They  built  a  large  grade  school  building  about  1904  and  added  a  high  school 
building  and  some  more  grade  rooms  in  1909  altogether  costing  about  $25,000.00. 
The  Gillespie  school  building  is  very  conveniently  arranged  and  is  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  in  this  part  of  the  state. 

Staunton  is  another  city  of  phenomenal  growth  within  recent  years  and  has 
built  about  $30,000.00  worth  of  school  buildings  within  the  last  six  years.  Brief 
mention  of  the  high  school  department  was  made  in  a  preceding  part  of  this 
article.  It  is  probably  the  best  equipped  high  school  in  the  county.  The  ninth 


252  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

grade  of  work  was  begun  in  Staunton  in  1894,  the  tenth  grade  was  added  in 
1895,  the  eleventh  grade  in  1897,  and  the  twelfth  grade  or  fourth  year  of  the 
high  school  work  was  added  in  1907,  and  the  course  is  now  fully  accredited  by 
the  Illinois  State  University.  This  development  took  place  under  the  following 
superintendents :  J.  I.  Taylor,  W.  R.  Duncan,  C.  M.  Brennen,  Robert  C.  Moore, 
and  Wm.  E.  Eccles.  One  hundred  five  students  have  graduated  from  this  school 
and  the  attendance  is  constantly  increasing.  To  give  an  idea  of  the  growth  of 
the  schools  in  some  of  the  cities,  we  will  say  that  in  1894  there  was  an  enroll- 
ment of  250  pupils  in  the  Staunton  school  and  they  were  taught  by  seven  teach- 
ers, while  in  1910  the  enrollment  was  760  pupils  taught  by  seventeen  teachers. 

Mt.  Olive  is  a  progressive  little  city  and  has  a  very  capable  corps  of  teach- 
ers. The  high  school  work  was  introduced  into  this  school  in  1895,  and  they 
have  graduated  109  students  since  that  time.  Their  superintendents  have  been 
E.  D.  Bittner,  J.  U.  Uzzell,  E.  A.  Morgan,  R.  H.  Perrott,  and  F.  L.  Hoehn. 
This  city  also  has  had  to  meet  the  building  problem  within  recent  years  and  has 
extended  its  school  grounds  and  added  to  its  buildings  quite  extensively. 

Bunker  Hill  was  the  first  city  to  add  work  beyond  the  eighth  grade.  High 
school  work  was  begun  there  in  1878,  and  the  course  has  been  extended  and 
improved  from  time  to  time.  Some  of  the  superintendents  have  been  W.  H. 
Miller,  T.  E.  Moore,  W.  C.  Hobson,  W.  G.  Baab,  C.  W.  Yerkes,  P.  M.  Hoke, 
L.  T.  Shaw,  and  H.  M.  Anderson.  G.  W.  Smith  of  Medora  is  employed  there 
for  the  year  of  1911-12.  Two  hundred  seven  have  received  diplomas  from  this 
school. 

Palmyra  has  a  very  good  three  year  high  school  course  and  will  probably 
soon  add  another  teacher  and  another  year  to  the  course.  Their  new  building 
has  already  been  mentioned. 

Medora  has  a  beautiful  and  substantial  new  building  and  a  good  two  year 
high  school  course.  They  have  there  the  largest  and  most  beautiful  school  yard 
in  this  part  of  the  state.  It  consists  of  several  acres  of  natural  forest  modified 
by  landscape  gardening  into  a  thing  of  art.  The  school  and  school  grounds  are 
the  pride  of  Medora. 

The  first  school  building  in  Medora  was  built  in  1864,  and  was  replaced  in 
1905  by  the  present  structure,  which  cost  $12,000.  Stroud  V.  Keller  was  the 
first  schoolteacher  in  the  old  building. 

The  Medora  high  school  began  its  more  advanced  work  with  the  class  of  1903 
and  1904,  and  this  school  has  turned  out  seventy-six  graduates.  Since  1903  the 
superintendents  have  been:  G.  A.  Walker,  C.  W.  Yerkes,  A.  Dawkins,  W.  J. 
Chapman,  five  years,  George  Solomon,  and  G.  A.  Smith,  six  years. 

Brighton  also  has  an  excellent  new  building  and  a  beautiful  yard.  Its  course 
consists  of  three  years  of  high  school  work. 

Some  of  the  other  villages  in  the  county  doing  some  creditable  work  beyond 
the  eighth  grade  are  Scottville,  Modesto,  Nilwood,  Piasa,  Shipman,  Benld,  Ches- 
terfield, Woodburn,  Atwater,  Dorchester,  Hettick,  Plainview,  and  the  two  room 
rural  school  at  Pleasant  Hill. 


JOHX  DENNISON 


LIBHAH.Y 

OF   I  He 

UNIVERSI1V  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  253 

THE    STATE    UNIVERSITY    TROLLEY    SCHOOL. 

In  January,  1911,  the  officers  and  teachers  of  the  Illinois  State  University 
began  to  make  plans  with  the  county  superintendents  in  the  counties  traversed 
by  the  McKinley  electric  railroad  to  "bring  the  State  University  to  the  people." 
Their  plan  was  to  send  out  several  university  professors  and  lecturers  on  a 
trolley  train  through  these  counties,  to  have  the  train  stop  at  certain  stations 
agreed  upon  in  advance,  and  to  have  the  lecturers  address  the  people  at  these 
stations  upon  live  agricultural  topics  illustrating  their  lectures  with  suitable 
apparatus  and  products.  The  county  superintendent  designated  five  stops  in 
this  county,  Gillespie,  Clark's  Siding,  Carlinville.  Girard,  and  Virden,  and  notified 
the  teachers  and  pupils  near  each  of  these  stations  to  be  present  at  the  time  ap- 
pointed for  the  lectures.  The  train  was  run  on  March  2d  according  to  the 
schedule  agreed  upon.  Two  lectures  were  given  in  each  of  the  two  cars  at  each 
stop,  and  the  school  children  and  their  parents  attended  in  such  large  numbers 
that  it  was  necessary  to  have  overflow  meetings  at  nearly  every  stop. 

The  lectures  were  on  such  subjects  as  Soil  Fertility,  Helpful  and  Harmful 
Birds.  Crop  Rotation,  Dairying,  Cattle  Feeding,  Poultry  Raising,  Farm  Build- 
ings, etc.  The  lectures  and  the  exhibits  on  the  cars  aroused  much  discussion 
among  the  teachers,  pupils,  and  parents,  awakened  an  interest  in  the  work  at  the 
State  University,  and  implanted  in  the  minds  of  many  people  a  desire  for  more 
knowledge  of  the  real  science  of  agriculture. 

SOME  PRESENT   PROBLEMS   AND  THE    FUTURE. 

This  brief  history  of  our  educational  system  is  a  story  of  growth,  develop- 
ment and  improvement.  But  it  must  not  be  taken  for  granted  that  the  entire 
system  is  now  perfect,  that  all  the  complex  problems  involved  in  it  have  been 
solved,  nor  that  it  will  require  little  attention  and  improvement  in  the  future. 
New  conditions  raise  new  questions,  and  progress  is  made  only  by  overcoming 
difficulties.  So  new  educational  problems  arise  and  old  ones  reappear  because 
of  changing  ideas  of  the  purposes  of  education,  because  of  the  rapid  increase  in 
our  foreign  population,  and  because  of  the  concentration  of  our  population  in 
cities  and  the  decrease  of  population  in  our  rural  communities. 

One  of  our  present  problems  might  be  stated  thus,  "What  should  be  included 
in  our  course  of  study?"  A  part  of  our  people  claim  that  we  are  trying  to 
teach  too  much  and  that  the  course  ought  to  be  shortened  and  simplified ;  while 
others  are  asking  for  the  addition  of  new  subjects.  Some  insist  that  manual 
training  and  household  science  be  given  more  attention ;  others  argue  for  music, 
drawing,  and  physical  culture.  Some  insist  upon  emphasizing  bookkeeping, 
business  arithmetic,  and  commercial  law ;  others  plead  for  more  English,  Latin, 
and  literature.  Some  say  that  we  should  have  more  studies  of  a  strictly  ethical 
nature;  others  claim  that  the  proper  teaching  of  any  subject  by  a  perfect  teacher 
develops  moral  character.  Many  demand  more  work  in  the  physical  sciences ; 
and  probably  as  many  demand  more  work  in  sociology  and  economics.  These 
are  but  a  few  of  the  many  things  suggested  to  the  school  authorities  by  an 
earnest  people  desiring  the  best  education  possible  for  their  children.  The  State 


254  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Course  of  Study  has  responded  to  many  of  these  varying  demands  until  it  now 
includes  more  than  can  be  mastered  by  the  average  teacher.  And  the  time  limit 
will  not  permit  the  introduction  of  all  useful  subjects  into  the  programs  of  our 
schools.  "What  shall  we  teach  ?"  will  be  an  open  question  for  some  time  to 
come  and  perhaps  forever. 

Many  deep  students  of  education  claim  that  it  matters  little  what  is  taught 
besides  the  elements  of  reading,  writing,  spelling,  and  numbers  if  the  teacher 
is  a  person  of  high  ideals,  good  character,  and  proper  methods.  This  at  once 
introduces  the  problem  of  how  to  keep  up  the  supply  of  good  teachers.  Death, 
matrimony,  and  change  of  occupation  depletes  the  ranks  of  the  tried  and  true 
teachers  each  year.  Death  occurs  because  it  cannot  be  prevented,  marriage  under 
proper  circumstances  should  not  be  avoided,  and  change  of  occupation  is  often 
desirable  and  even  necessary  because  of  the  better  pay  in  other  departments  of 
the  world's  work.  So  it  is  necessary  each  year  to  grant  certificates  to  about 
forty  or  fifty  boys  and  girls  and  to  send  them  out  to  practice  the  highly  important 
profession  of  teaching  before  they  have  had  any  special  training  for  it.  So  the 
problem  of  obtaining  and  keeping  a  supply  of  efficient  teachers  is  still  a  live  one. 

The  large  increase  in  the  population  of  this  county  during  the  last  twenty 
years  has  been  altogether  in  the  cities,  and  the  increase  in  the  school  population 
of  these  cities  has  been  much  more  rapid  than  the  increase  in  the  assessed  valua- 
tion and  therefore  more  rapid  than  the  available  school  revenue.  The  demands 
of  the  people  for  the  addition  of  high  school  courses  in  these  cities  have  in- 
creased the  cost  of  maintaining  the  schools.  Therefore  the  problem  of  raising 
enough  money  to  provide  proper  school  facilities  is  an  acute  one  in  several  of 
our  city  districts. 

The  popularity  of  the  high  school  courses  in  the  cities  has  spread  into  the 
rural  districts,  and  the  demands  for  high  school  advantages  for  the  country 
pupils  are  increasing.  Some  rural  districts  have  tried  the  experiment  of  adding 
some  high  school  work  to  their  course,  but  it  is  found  that  one  teacher  has 
enough  to  do  to  teach  the  work  below  the  high  school.  When  she  attempts 
more,  she  is  compelled  to  so  divide  her  time  and  energies  as  to  slight  some  of  the 
work.  Some  parents  send  their  children  to  the  city  high  schools  and  pay  their 
tuition.  But  some  people  live  at  considerable  distance  from  any  city  high  school, 
and  some  can  hardly  afford  the  extra  expense  of  tuition,  etc.,  for  several  chil- 
dren. At  the  same  time  these  people  feel  that  their  children  deserve  advantages 
equal  to  those  of  the  city  children.  Therefore,  the  question  of  how  to  provide 
high  school  advantages  for  the  country  boys  and  girls  is  insistantly  demanding 
an  answer. 

The  law  provides  that  township  high  schools  may  be  established  by  a  vote  of 
the  people,  but  no  such  school  has  yet  been  established  in  this  county,  largely 
because  of  the  rivalry  between  different  parts  of  townships  and  the  opposition 
of  non-resident  land  owners  and  of  tax  payers  without  children.  Many  believe 
that  we  have  too  many  rural  districts  and  that  consolidation  is  the  solution  of 
several  of  our  problems.  But  this  idea  is  new  and  not  yet  well  understood  and 
is  opposed  by  the  same  influences  named  above. 

The  fact  that  these  questions  are  being  discussed  shows  not  only  that  much 
is  to  be  accomplished  in  the  future  but  also  that  our  people  are  awake  to  the 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  255 

needs  of  the  day  in  educational  affairs.  The  experience  of  the  past  gives  us 
hope  and  courage, — courage  to  grapple  with  the  stubborn  opposition  to  prog- 
ress, and  hope  that  all  these  questions  will  be  answered  in  terms  of  what  is  best 
for  the  children,  and  through  them  in  terms  of  what  is  best  for  the  welfare  of 
our  state  and  the  stability  of  our  government. 

BLACKBURN   UNIVERSITY. 

About  the  year  1835  the  Rev.  Gideon  Blackburn  proposed  to  various  benevo- 
lent persons  -in  Massachusetts  and  other  eastern  states  the  following  plan  for 
raising  money  for  the  purpose  of  founding  and  establishing  a  theological  semi- 
nary in  Illinois : — that  they  should  advance  to  him  money  with  which  he  should 
purchase  government  lands  at  $1.25  per  acre,  that  he  should  convey  to  them 
respectively  of  these  lands  amounts,  which  at  $2.00  per  acre  should  be  equal  to 
the  sums  advanced ;  that  of  the  remaining  lands  he  should  take  one-third  to  his 
own  use  to  reimburse  him  for  his  trouble  and  expenses  and  the  other  two-thirds 
should  constitute  a  fund  for  the  funding  and  establishment  of  the  college;  in 
other  words,  five-eighths  of  the  lands  thus  purchased  should  be  conveyed  to  the 
persons  who  advanced  the  money,  and  one-eighth  to  himself,  leaving  one-fourth 
to  constitute  the  seminary  fund.  In  the  execution  of  this  plan  he  raised  funds 
with  which  he  purchased  over  64,000  acres  of  land ;  thus  providing  a  seminary 
fund  of  over  16,000  acres.  On  the  28th  day  of  September,  1837,  Dr.  Blackburn 
acknowledged  and  executed  a  deed  of  trust'  conveying  to  W.  S.  Oilman  and  six 
other  trustees  the  said  lands  constituting  the  seminary  fund  and  some  other 
lands  in  trust  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  an  institution  of  learning  on  the 
principles  in  the  deed  specified.  The  deed  directs  the  trustees  to  procure  from  the 
legislature  of  Illinois  an  act  of  incorporation  for  the  institution,  if  practicable,  to 
which  they  shall  convey  the  lands  and  transfer  the  funds  constituting  the  fund 
of  the  institution  and  until  such  act  of  incorporation  shall  be  procured  it  author- 
izes the  trustees  to  sell,  mortgage,  or  lease  the  said  lands  and  to  apply  the  avails 
thereof  to  the  funding  and  up-building  of  an  institution  of  learning,  the  object 
of  which  shall  be  to  promote  the  general  interest  of  education  and  to  qualify 
young  men  for  the  office  of  the  gospel  ministry  by  giving  them  such  suitable  in- 
struction in  the  Holy  Scriptures  as  may  enable  them  to  perform  the  duties  of 
that  high  and  holy  vocation  acceptably  to  the  world.  The  deed  provides  for  the 
appointment  of  others  and  additional  trustees  and  for  filling  vacancies,  and  pro- 
vides with  considerable  detail  for  the  government  of  the  institution  and  reserves 
to  the  grantor  the  right  of  visitation.  In  the  deed  immediately  following  the 
description  of  the  premises  conveyed  and  the  habendum,  this  clause  appears: 
"On  the  following  trust  and  conditions,  that  the  said  southeast  quarter  of  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  21,  and  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  28.  township  10.  north  of  range  7  west,  be  the  site  for  the  perma- 
nent location  of 'the  institution  hereinafter  mentioned,  the  said  parcels  of  land 
having  been  purchased  by  the  said  party  of  the  first  part  and  other  funds  of  the 
institution  for  that  express  purpose." 

In  August,  1838,  Dr.  Blackburn  died  intestate,  leaving  eight  children,  his 
heirs  at  law,  several  of  whom  were  infants,  and  one  of  whom  had  died  before  the 


256  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

filing"  of  the  original  bill  in  this  suit.  The  trustees  sold  portions  of  the  land  from 
time  to  time  for  the  purpose  of  paying  taxes  on  the  residue,  etc.,  but  made  no 
attempt  to  proceed  with  the  erection  of  the  institution. 

There  was  an  attempt  made  to  convey  these  lands  to  the  trustees  of  the  Illi- 
nois College,  at  Jacksonville,  under  a  decree  issued  by  the  Sangamon  circuit 
court.  That  decree  was  entered  at  the  November  term,  1854,  of  said  court  by 
Judge  David  Davis,  the  judge  then  presiding.  The  trustees  of  the  Illinois  Col- 
lege sold  a  number  of  acres  of  these  lands  and  at  the  December  term,  1854,  the 
supreme  court  of  the  state  of  Illinois  reversed  that  decision,  ordering  the  trustees 
of  Illinois  College  to  reconvey  to  the  trustees  of  Blackburn  College  the  said  lands 
that  they  had  received  and  the  money  that  they  had  received  for  land  they  had 
sold,  and  thus  under  that  decision  Blackburn  University  became  rehabilitated 
with  the  trust  left  by  the  Rev.  Gideon  Blackburn  to  be  used  for  the  purposes 
indicated  as  aforesaid. 

To  secure  the  location  of  the  school  at  Carlinville,  the  citizens  had  contributed 
funds  to  purchase  eighty  acres  of  land  at  the  edge  of  town  as  "the  site  for  the 
permanent  location  of  the  institution." 

William  Weer,  Jr.,  who  was  a  brilliant  young  lawyer  then  residing  in  Carlin- 
ville, and  had  married  a  daughter  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Hamilton,  a  daughter  of 
the  Rev.  Gideon  Blackburn,  induced  Mrs.  Hamilton  and  Grundy  H.  Blackburn,  a 
son  of  Gideon  Blackburn,  to  file  a  cross  bill  in  the  case,  claiming  that  as  the  trust 
had  failed,  the  lands  reverted  to  the  heirs  of  the  Rev.  Blackburn.  He  appeared 
in  the  case  as  their  solicitor,  being  opposed  by  the  distinguished  lawyers,  Abra- 
ham Lincoln,  who  afterwards  became  president  of  the  United  States,  and  the 
Hon.  David  A.  Smith,  of  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  who  were  employed  by  the  trustees 
of  the  Illinois  college  as  their  attorneys.  Judge  Walter  B.  Scates  rendered  the 
decision  of  the  supreme  court  holding  that  the  attempted  transfer  of  the  lands 
by  the  trustees  of  Blackburn  College  to  the  trustees  of  the  Illinois  College  was 
an  illegal  act,  without  authority  and  could  not  be  enforced  as,  under  the  deed 
of  conveyance  made  by  Dr.  Blackburn  to  the  trustees  of  Blackburn  College,  the 
institution  was  permanently  located  at  Carlinville,  Illinois,  and  could  not  be 
removed,  thus  settling  its  location  at  Carlinville  for  all  time  to  come. 

In  1857  a  charter  was  obtained  from  the  state  legislature  into  which  the 
language  of  Dr.  Blackburn's  deed  of  trust  was  incorporated  as  far  as  prac- 
ticable. This  charter  exempts  all  the  property  of  the  institution  from  taxation 
forever. 

In  1858-9  a  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $12,000,  and  ten  years  later  it 
was  enlarged  and  improved  at  an  expense  of  $35,000. 

A  preparatory  school  was  opened  in  1859,  with  the  Rev.  John  C.  Downer  as 
principal  and  Professor  Jacob  Clark  as  assistant.  In  1862  Professor  Robert  B. 
Minton  became  president  of  the  college  and  served  as  such  until  1871.  After- 
wards he  became  professor  of  mathematics  and  continued  with  the  institution 
until  his  death  in  1889.  He  had  for  years  occupied  the  position  of  treasurer  of 
the  institution,  as  well  as  instructor. 

In  1864  a  full  collegiate  course  of  study,  classical  and  scientific,  was  adopted 
women  being  admitted  on  the  same  terms  as  men.  The  first  class  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  college  in  1870,  consisting  of  seven  members  who  have  taken  high 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  257 

position  in  the  communities  in  which  they  live,  in  the  learned  professions  and  in 
the  business  occupations  of  the  times.  In  1867  a  theological  department  was 
organized  and  continued,  until  the  development  of  theological  seminaries  in  cities 
within  reasonable  distance  made  it  no  longer  necessary. 

In  1868,  the  legislature,  at  the  request  of  the  trustees,  changed  the  name  of 
the  institution  from  Blackburn  Theological  Seminary  to  The  Blackburn  Uni- 
versity. 

In  1871,  the  Rev.  John  W.  Bailey,  D.  D.,  a  distinguished  scholar  and  eminent 
preacher  and  educator,  was  chosen  president  and  held  that  position  until  1876. 
The  following  year,  the  Rev.  Edwin  L.  Kurd,  D.  D.,  an  able  minister,  a  refined 
and  courtly  gentleman,  who  was  perhaps  one  of  the  ablest  instructors  that  the 
institution  has  ever  had,  was  chosen  chief  executive  and  continued  in  the  presi- 
dency until  1891.  In  that  year  the  Rev.  Richard  Edwards  ex-superintendent  of 
public  instruction  of  Illinois,  was  made  president  but  was  compelled  to  resign 
two  years  later  on  account  of  failing  health.  The  Rev.  James  E.  Rogers,  Ph.  D.r 
D.  D.,  a  noted  linguist,  was  called  to  the  presidency  and  remained  at  the  head 
of  the  college  until  June,  1896,  when  he  resigned  to  resume  the  pastorate.  Dur- 
ing the  year  1896-7  Professor  Walter  H.  Crowell,  an  alumnus,  was  appointed 
acting  president  and  in  1907,  at  Professor  Crowell's  resignation,  Professor  Walter 
H.  Bradley  was  appointed  acting  president  and  continued  as  such  until  1905,  when 
the  Rev.  Thomas  W.  Lingle,  Ph.  D.,  was  elected  president,  and  was  entitled  to 
the  credit  of  obtaining  the  increase  in  the  endowment  fund  which  assured  the 
future  of  the  college.  At  his  resignation  in  1908,  Dr.  Bradley  was  again  made 
acting  president. 

In  1906  a  movement  was  inaugurated  to  increase  the  endowment.  Andrew 
Carnegie  offered  $20,000  on  condition  that  $50.000  more  be  raised  in  cash.  The 
condition  was  met  and  $70,000  was  added  to  the  resources  of  the  school.  In 
1908,  by  the  settlement  of  the  John  A.  Harris  estate,  $20,000  came  into  the  treas- 
ury of  the  college  and  in  1910  other  bequests  added  to  the  endowment  fund. 

The  resources  of  the  college  consists  of : 

1.  The  campus  farm  of  eighty  acres,  on  twenty  acres  of  which  a  state  agri- 
cultural experiment  station  is  located.     Ten  acres  are  used  for  college  purposes 
exclusively,  in  the  campus  and  athletic  fields. 

2.  Three  buildings :  University  Hall,  costing  about  $50,000 ;  Robertson  Hall, 
erected  for  scientific  purposes  by  the  late  Dr.  William  A.  Robertson  and  wife, 
at  a  cost  of  $12,000;  and  the  Minton  Observatory,  named  for  Professor  Robert 
B.  Minton. 

3.  The  Taylor  Museum,  containing  between  thirty  and  forty  thousand  min- 
eral and  fossil  specimens,  the  gift   for  the  most  part  of  the  late  Dr.  Julius  S. 
Taylor,  of  Kankakee,  Illinois,  obtained  through  the  influence  of  President  Hurd. 

The  citizens  of  Carlinville  are  rightfully  proud  of  Blackburn  University  and 
of  their  other  educational  facilities  and  why  shouldn't  they  be?  Blackburn  Uni- 
versity and  its  surrounding  campus  of  eighty  acres  can  not  be  excelled  for  beauty 
and  its  inviting  green  swards  with  its  large  forest  trees  composed  of  elm  and  oak 
with  wide  branching  tops  make  shade  for  the  reclining  student  in  his  studies. 
As  to  the  course  of  study  Blackburn  embraces  all  the  requ'sites  of  the  best  and 
larger  colleges  of  our  state  for  the  obta:ning  of  a  practical  education  and  Ma- 


258  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

coupin  County  owes  to  Dr.  Blackburn  a  debt  of  gratitude  for  his  great  foresight 
and  courage  in  selecting  our  city  and  county  for  the  institution  that  so  appro- 
priately bears  his  name,  and  we  feel  that  we  would  be  recreant  to  his  good  name 
and  deeds  did  we  not  give  testimony  to  the  character  of  the  educational  work 
accomplished  by  this  institution  and  no  better  tribute  can  be  found  than  in  the 
high  and  honorable  position  accorded  to  the  graduates  of  Blackburn  University. 
In  the  learned  professions  and  in  all  the  varied  business  avocations  of  this  won- 
derful business  age,  they  nowhere  fall  behind  the  graduates  of  the  larger  and 
more  expensive  colleges  and  universities  of  this  state. 

THE  REV.  GIDEON  BLACKBURN,  D.  D. 

"  "     • 

Gideon  Blackburn  was  born  in  Augusta  county,  Virginia,  August  27,  1772, 
his  father  being  Robert  Blackburn  and  his  mother  a  member  of  the  Richie  fam- 
ily. His  parents  were  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry  and  devout  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church. 

Gideon  made  his  home  much  of  the  time  until  his  twelfth  year  with  his 
grandfather,  General  Blackburn,  and  owed  his  educational  opportunities  for  the 
most  part  to  his  maternal  uncle,  Gideon  Richie,  for  whom  he  had  been  named. 
In  the  current  of  westward  migration  the  family  settled  for  a  time  in  Washing- 
ton county,  Tennessee,  (then  within  the  bounds  of  North  Carolina),  where  the 
boy  was  placed  under  the  care  and  instruction  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Doak,  D.  D., 
a  distinguished  minister  and  teacher,  the  founder  and  principal  of  Martin 
Academy.  At  this  school  the  greater  part  of  his  literary  course  was  taken.  Sev- 
enty miles  farther  west,  at  Dandridge,  Tennessee,  under  the  Rev.  Dr.  Robert 
Henderson,  his  advanced  literary  and  theological  studies  were  pursued.  By  the 
Presbytery  of  Abingdon,  (Tennessee),  he  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1792  and 
ordained  to  the  full  work  of  the  ministry  in  1794.  In  April,^724jpe  accepted  a 
call  to  the  New  Providence  (Maryville,  Tenn.,)  and  Eusebia  cHurches  and  began 
his  pastoral  duties.  Those  were  the  days  when  congregations  went  armed  to 
church  and  ministers  preached  with  rifles  by  their  sides  because  of  danger  from 
the  Indians.  The  Cherokees  were  on  the  warpath.  Work  was  done  and  trips 
were  made  in  companies.  The  people  lived  in  settlements  or  behind  the  walls  of 
forts.  The  young  minister  did  his  share  of  the  common  labor  and  took  his  part 
of  the  dangers.  When  the  Cherokees  became  more  tractable  he  established  mis- 
sions and  schools  for  them,  collecting  considerable  amounts  of  money  in  the 
north  for  this  purpose  and  discontinuing  the  work  only  when  health  and  financial 
embarrassment,  growing  out  of  his  personal  sacrifices  for  the  mission,  made  it 
necessary. 

In  1811  he  removed  to  Franklin,  Williamson  county,  Tennessee,  eighteen 
miles  south  of  Nashville,  to  take  charge  of  Harpeth  Academy  and  afterwards 
Independent  Academy  in  the  same  county  and  to  evangelize  the  surrounding 
region.  A  considerable  change  was  made  in  the  religious  sentiment  of  the  coun- 
try within  a  radius  of  fifty  miles.  While  here,  in  1818,  Greeneville  College,  Ten- 
nessee, gave  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity. 

Remaining  in  Williamson  county  for  twelve  years,  he,  in  1823,  became  the 
pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Louisville,  Kentucky.  After  a  sue- 


1)1!.   CIDKOX    m.ACKWKX 


LIBRARY 

OF  1H£ 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  259 

cess ful  pastorate  of  four  years  he  accepted  the  presidency  of  Centre  College,  Dan- 
ville, Kentucky,  where  he  remained  for  three  years.  Returning  to  the  pastorate 
he  remained  at  Versailles,  Kentucky,  for  three  years  and'  thence  came  to  central 
Illinois,  in  1833.  For  a  time  he  was  financial  agent  for  Illinois  College  at  Jack- 
sonville but  the  last  years  of  his  life  were  given  to  founding  a  theological  sem- 
inary for  the  central  west.  His  efforts  resulted  in  the  establishment  of  Black- 
burn University,  at  Carlinville,  Illinois. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  winter  of  1837-8  Dr.  Blackburn  slipped  and  fell  on- 
the  ice,  so  seriously  injuring  the  hip-joint  that  he  never  walked  again.  August 
23,  1838,  he  fell  asleep,  in  the  sixty-sixth  year  of  his  age. 

October  3,  1793,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Grizzel  Blackburn,  a  distant  relative. 
Of  eleven  children,  seven  sons  and  four  daughters,  two  sons  became  ministers 
and  one  son  died  while  fitting  himself  for  the  ministry. 

Dr.  Blackburn  was  a  new  school  Presbyterian,  throwing  himself  heart  and 
soul  into  the  struggle  for  what  he  believed  to  be  the  truth.  Yet  in  his  manners 
he  was  of  the  old  school  of  gentlemen,  easy,  gentle,  courteous,  mild,  affable, 
always  dignified,  even  somewhat  reserved.  His  bearing  was  naturally  military 
and  on  occasion  he  could  be  severe  and  haughty.  He  ruled  well  his  own  house- 
hold and  the  youth  entrusted  to  his  care  in  the  academies  and  the  college  of  which 
he  was  the  head.  His  knowledge  of  and  instruction  in  logic,  rhetoric,  mental  and 
moral  philosophy,  was  broad  and  illuminating.  In  his  preaching  he  was  ex  tern- 
pore,  didactic,  vividly  descriptive,  witching.  His  voice  was  silvery,  his  person 
and  manner  elegant,  his  zeal  contagious,  his  logic  convincing  and  his  eloquence 
inspiring.  Men  heard  him,  went  away  and  came  to  hear  him  again.  He  was 
laborious  and  earnest,  a  man  and  Christian  of  the  active  rather  than  the  con- 
templative type.  He  did  things  and  he  believed  more  in  a  religion  of  keeping 
the  commandments  than  in  one  of  ."frames  and  feelings."  He  believed  in 
Providence  and  accepted  trial  and  sorrow  as  well  as  prosperity  and  happiness  as 
coming  from  God.  He  was  a  man  of  men  and  a  man  of  God. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

PIONEER  SCHOOLS. 

THE  PEDAGOGUE  AND  THE  SCHOOLHOUSE  OF  EARLY  DAYS THE  TEACHER  "BOARDED 

"ROUND"  AND  TOOK  "POT  LUCK" — NO  "LAUGHING  OUT  IN  SCHOOL"  ALLOWED — 
SCHOOLHOUSES   WITHOUT  WINDOWS   SIMPLY  A  "HOLE   IN  THE  WALL." 

A  history  of  the  county  without  noticing  the  educational  interests,  would  be 
incomplete,  and  yet  we  are  unable  to  give  much  valuable  information  in  regard 
to  the  early  school  system  of  the  county.  The  fact  is,  the  early  schools  of  the 
county  were  like  angel's  visits  are  said  to  be,  "few  and  far  between,"  and  the 
whole  educational  system — if  system  it  may  be  called — of  Macoupin  county,  in 
common  with  the  state  was  almost  without  order  or  management.  There  were 
good  schools  taught  but  as  compared  with  the  present  system  and  its  advantages, 
they  were  far  inferior.  There  were  some  good  "schoolmasters"  in  those  days 
who  were  very  successful  in  rearing  the  tender  minds  and  "teaching  the  young 
ideas  how  to  shoot,"  but  the  majority  were  but  poorly  qualified  for  the  duties 
of  instructors.  The  popular  standard  of  education  was  low,  owing  to  the  pe- 
culiar incidents  and  surroundings  of  pioneer  life.  The  country  was  sparsely 
settled  and  the  people  generally  poor,  and  however  anxious  they  may  have 
been  for  good  educational  advantages,  it  was  utterly  impossible  to  obtain  them. 
But  few  who  had  qualified  themselves  for  the  profession  of  teaching  wandered 
so  far  west.  The  schoolmaster  was  generally  some  unfortunate,  poverty  stricken 
wretch  who  had  been  wafted  to  the  outskirts  of  civilization  and  had  become 
snow  bound,  water  bound  or  frost  bitten,  and  was  compelled  to  "take  up  a 
school"  to  keep  soul  and  body  together  until  a  favorable  opportunity  presented 
itself  for  him  to  get  to  his  destination,  or  back  to  his  home  in  the  east.  Not 
infrequently  did  it  happen  that  a  man  was  to  be  found  who  was  too  lazy,  in  the 
popular  estimation,  for  anything  else  than  a  schoolteacher,  who  was  induced  to 
pass  around  his  "subscription  for  signers"  and  "take  up"  a  school.  Some  people 
seemed  to  have  entertained  the  idea  that  laziness  was  one  of  the  qualifications  of 
a  schoolteacher.  The  Biblical  camel  could  about  as  well  accomplish  the  needle's 
eye  feat  as  one  of  these  living  specimens  of  inertia  could  properly  manage  and 
"keep  a  school"  in  those  days,  when  the  big  boys  were  boiling  over  with  mischief 
and  had  no  great  respect  for  the  restraint  of  the  schoolroom  anyhow.  The 
teachers  were  of  necessity  poorly  paid,  and  all  things  considered,  perhaps,  ren- 
dered as  much  instruction  in  proportion  to  the  compensation  as  those  of  the 
present  day.  It  was  certainly  no  pleasant  task  in  those  days  the  teacher  had  to 

260 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  261 

perform.  He  usually  "boarded  round"  with  the  scholars  and  in  this  respect 
was  like  a  stray  dog,  having  no  fixed  place  of  abode.  He  was  compelled  to  make 
long  and  laborious  journeys  to  and  from  his  temporary  stopping  places,  which, 
taken  in  connection  with  the  fact  that  the  poor  fellow  was  often  poorly  clad  and 
possessed  no  great  amount  of  vitality  at  any  rate,  rendered  him  an  object  of 
mingled  commiseration  and  pity.  He  was  likewise  made  the  target  at  which  was 
hurled  all  the  knotty  questions  of  theology,  mathematics,  science  and  politics,  that 
had  descended  down  to  the  different  households  from  generation  to  generation. 

These  knotty  problems  were  piled  on  the  poor  pedagogue  promiscuously  and 
in  pell-mell  order,  as  though  he  were  a  creature  of  infinite  power  and  had  the 
ability  to  solve  them,  seriatim,  by  some  magical  power  to  the  populace  unknown. 
The  big  boys  of  the  neighboring  district  poured  in  on  the  poor  fellow  all 
sorts  of  mathematical  questions  that  would  have  puzzled  the  arithmetic  makers 
themselves,  and  it  was  a  forfeiture  of  his  standing  in  the  community  if  he 
did  not  furnish  a  solution  and  prove  his  demonstration  by  the  rules  of  Smiley 
or  Adams.  It  was  not  infrequent  in  later  days  that  the  school-master  was 
put  through  a  most  critical  examination  on  Kirkham  or  Smith,  by  pater- 
familias, to  determine  his  fitness  to  teach  Sarah  Jane  the  rudiments  of  Eng- 
lish grammar,  and  woe  betide  the  unfortunate  pedagogue  if  by  chance  he 
happened  to  transgress  the  ipse  dixit  of  the  inquisitor's  favorite  author.  He  was, 
also  the  neighborhood  calculator  of  interest  on  all  the  paid  and  unpaid  notes  of 
the  community  and  was  expected  to  furnish  each  family  with  the  mathematical 
data  as  to  the  required  number  of  hogs,  at  a  given  price,  to  purchase  the  ad- 
joining forty  acres  at  the  next  sale  of  the  land  office.  He  was  also  expected  to 
furnish  to  order  reasonable  and  satisfactory  arguments  for  combatting  the 
heretical  dogmas  of  preacher  so-and-so,  who  had  a  short  time  previous  come 
near  capturing  the  whole  neighborhood  with  his  "new  light"  doctrines  or  anti- 
total-depravity  theories. 

He  also  had  divers  other  difficulties  to  meet  and  overcome.  He  was  actually 
compelled  to  court  the  good  graces  of  the  young  men  who  were  his  pupils. 
They  were  sometimes  disposed  on  slight  provocation  to  plot  treason  against  the 
government,  which  sometimes  ripened  into  overt  acts.  It  often  happened  that 
open  rebellion  existed  and  the  poor  teacher  was  subjected  to  a  pummeling  at 
the  hands  of  the  refractory  members  of  his  school.  At  other  times  the  parents 
themselves,  for  grievances  they  supposed  justifiable,  took  the  law  into  their 
own  hands  and  inflicted  upon  the  offending  master  a  punishment  entirely  too 
serious  for  a  well  regulated  community  to  tolerate.  An  instance  is  related  of 
one  poor  fellow  who  had  offended  his  patrons,  being  compelled  to  make  the  best 
record  known  in  the  community,  in  the  shape  of  a  foot  race,  being  urged  on 
and  on  in  front  of  a  pair  of  brutal  stogas  which  were  propelled  by  an  irate 
father.  His  coat  tails  are  said  to  have  ever  and  anon  floated  high  in  the  air 
at  the  touch  of  the  swearing,  raging,  pursuing  ursine.  Whether  henceforth  the 
offending  teacher  became  a  wanderer,  disconsolate  and  heart  broken,  like  Ichabod 
Crane,  is  not  stated. 

Other  instances  might  be  given  where  ye  pedagogue  was  bound  hand  and 
foot  by  his  pupils,  taken  by  force  of  arms  from  his  castle,  as  it  were,  and 
ducked  in  the  creek  or  frog  pond,  and  that,  too,  when  the  temperature  was  almost 


262  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

as  frigid  as  it  is  supposed  to  be  on  the  north  side  of  the  icebergs  in  Iceland. 
There  was  also  a  habit  in  early  days  of  barring  the  teacher  out  of  the  schoolhouse 
on  Christmas  if  he  would  not  treat  the  school  to  apples,  candy  or  something  of 
that  nature  equally  as  significant.  It  is  even  said  that  the  demands  of  the  elder 
portion  of  the  male  pupils  were  often  for  a  jug  of  something  stronger  and  more 
exhilarating.  This  was  a  custom  originating  no  one  knows  where,  at  one  time 
rigidly  adhered  to  but  now  passed  away  with  many  other  aforetime  usages. 

The  teacher  had  his  pleasures  and  enjoyments  as  well.  It  was  not  all  thorns 
and  thistles  that  grew  along  his  pathway.  A  few  flowers, — puny,  sickly  blos- 
soms of  the  morning  glory  order,  to  us  they  might  seem  but  flowers,  neverthe- 
less— also  grew  among  them.  He  was  one  of  the  lords  of  creation,  as  he  boarded 
around  from  house  to  house.  There  was  nothing  too  good  in  the  eating  line, 
from  the  dried  pumpkins  that  hung  in  strings  on  the  wall,  to  honey  and  venison 
and  wild  turkey,  that  was  not  placed  before  him.  There  was  nothing  but  the 
dyspepsia  that  prevented  the  revolving  teacher  from  faring  sumptuously  every 
day ;  and  few  remember  of  having  seen  a  schoolteacher  in  those  days  of  long  walks 
and  airy  schoolhouses,  who  was  a  dyspeptic.  The  general  experience  of  the 
good  old  housewives  of  those  days  is,  that  a  schoolteacher  who  had  eaten  a  cold 
dinner,  or  no  dinner  at  all,  and  then  after  school  "was  out"  had  walked  from  two 
to  five  miles  to  his  evening  domicile  and  had  his  appetite  whetted  by  the  ap- 
petizing aroma  that  rose  from  the  semicircle  of  cooking  victuals  in  front  of  the 
old  fashioned  fire  place,  could  come  as  near  reading  his  title  clear  to  earthly  en- 
joyment as  any  one.  He  was  generally  able  to  do  ample  and  complete  justice 
to  the  repast,  so  to  speak.  There  was  enjoyment  in  it.  He  was  ipso  facto  for 
the  time  being,  lord  of  all  he  surveyed,  and  he  surveyed  with  a  kind  of  otium 
cum  dignitate  grace  that  would  make  a  hungry  mortal  feel  glorious. 

If  he  had  any  knack  at  all  in  story  telling,  he  was  undoubtedly  edified  in 
sitting  around  the  fireside  during  the  long  winter  evenings  and  dealing  out  to  the 
listening  household  those  startling  stories  that  have  descended  down  from  gen- 
erations and  have  accumulated  in  size  and  horror  at  almost  every  repetition. 
Old  grandma,  too,  was  often  on  hand  with  her  stories  of  goblins  and  ghosts, 
that  made  the  little  folks  as  well  as  the  teacher,  feel  shaky  and  down  hearted 
and  almost  afraid  to  move.  There  were  in  those  early  days  when  most  people 
had  nothing  to  read,  except,  perhaps,  the  Testament,  Peep  of  Day,  Life  of 
Boone,  or  Marion,  much  real  enjoyment  in  story  telling  and  the  teacher  was 
always  expected  to  do  his  duty  in  this  regard,  or  else  be  voted  an  uncommon 
bore.  And  then  he  was  the  generalissimo  at  all  the  parties  and  gatherings,  from 
the  "apple  pealings"  up  to  the  wedding.  At  the  latter  place  he  was  regarded  as 
but  little  lower  than  the  parson  himself  and  was  expected  to  furnish  the  fun 
necessary  for  the  occasion — and  it  was  usually  a  very  cheap  order  of  fun  re- 
quired, for  on  such  occasions  the  whole  assembly  was  easily  set  wild  with  mirth 
and  laughter  on  the  slightest  of  provocations.  An  old  fashioned  wedding  with 
the  teacher  left  out  was  not  regarded  as  altogether  a  success.  The  materials  were 
all  there  but  it  lacked  a  free  and  easy  sort  of  a  fellow,  such  as  the  teacher  usually 
was,  to  set  the  giggling  machinery  a-going. 

But  it  was  in  the  schoolroom  of  those  early  days  that  the  teacher  showed 
his  powers  to  the  greatest  advantage.  There  he  was  the  supreme  autocrat  and 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  263 

ruled  usually  with  a  kind  of  sledge  hammer  bravado  that  was  a  terror  to  little 
urchins.  The  moment  he  called  "books"  there  was  a  mingled  expression  of 
sternness  and  gravity  that  settled  on  his  austere  brow;  as  though  he  was  born 
to  rule  the  storm.  That  very  moment  he  became  transposed  from  Philip  drunk, 
to  Philip  sober,  as  it  were;  and  he  gathered  up  all  the  hilarious  faculties  about 
him  and  drowned  them  out  as  if  thenceforth  and  forever  he  expected  to  remain 
an  iceberg  of  despair  and  solemnity.  When  he  spoke,  he  spoke  as  one  having 
authority,  and  his  orders  were  peremptory  and  absolute.  There  was  no  look 
of  compromise  in  his  appearance  and  the  black  flag  was  kept  continually  un- 
furled from  his  ramparts.  On  the  morning  school  commenced,  he  read  a  string 
of  rules  as  long  as  the  code  of  Napoleon,  and  altogether  more  stringent.  These 
rules  he  carried  in  his  hat,  read  once  a  day,  by  way  of  warning,  and  in  the 
enforcing  of  which  he  directed  more  energy,  mental  and  physical,  than  to  im- 
parting instruction.  There  stood  in  the  corner,  or  lay  concealed  in  the  desk, 
a  weapon  of  daily  use,  of  hickory  or  hazel  origin.  This  he  used  as  a  war 
measure,  both  offensive  and  defensive.  It  was  not  used  as  a  dernier  resort, 
but  as  a  first  resort,  and  that,  too,  often  quite  vigorously.  When  the  offending 
urchin  had  passed  the  line  prescribed  by  the  oft  repeated  rules,  no  matter 
whether  intentional  or  not,  down  came  the  rod,  if  for  no  other  reason  than  to 
show  the  inexorable  quality  of  the  aforesaid  rules.  Order  was  the  first  law  of 
heaven  and  the  keeping  of  order  was  the  keeping  of  the  rules.  If,  for  instance, 
the  rules  said  "no  laughing  out  in  school  allowed,"  and  by  the  merest  accident! 
and  wholly  unintentional,  the  most  innocent  little  titter  was  heard  above  the 
surrounding  din,  the  dogs  of  war  were  let  loose  and  the  offender  dragged  to  jus- 
tice. Who  that  has  ever  been  in  school  with  a  lot  of  little,  mirth  loving  children, 
all  bubbling  over  with  fun,  and  does  not  know  that  there  are  little  incidents 
occurring  in  the  schoolroom  daily  that  it  would  be  worse  than  death  itself  if 
the  little  fellows  could  not  laugh.  Just  as  well  try  to  dam  up  the  Niagara  at 
the  rapids  as  suppress  one  of  these  involuntary  laughs  in  a  child  full  of  spirit 
and  life.  "It  won't  down."  Yet  the  teacher  had  his  rules  and  these  rules  were 
absolutely  without  provisos,  and  he  enforced  them  without  an  if  or  a  but.  He 
regarded  it  as  a  kind  of  dot-your-i-and-cross-your-t-transaction.  The  act  was 
sure  to  bring  on  the  penalty  without  regard  to  intention  or  any  other  element  of 
crime. 

The  method  of  teaching  was  also  quite  different  from  that  of  the  present 
day.  It  is  hardly  susceptible  of  accurate  description.  It  is  one  of  those  things 
that  ought  to  be  seen  to  be  duly  appreciated.  The  school  books  were  very  few. 
Webster's  spelling  book  was  the  book  used  by  beginners,  usually;  though,  per- 
haps, not  used  in  the  first  schools  of  the  county.  There  was  the  old  English 
reader  that  succeeded  next  in  order,  after  the  spelling  book.  But  few,  however, 
were  able  to  obtain  it.  There  was  no  uniformity  in  the  school  books.  Almost 
every  family  of  children  had  a  different  kind  of  book,  which  their  parents  had 
used  in  their  school  days,  and  had  handed  down  usually  in  a  good  state  of 
preservation.  It  was  not  unusual  that  the  children  learned  their  a,  b,  c's  from 
a  shingle,  upon  which  the  letters  were  cut  or  made  with  chalk  or  charcoal. 
The  New  Testament  was  often  used  as  a  reader  for  all  grades  of  advancement. 
It  answered  the  purpose  of  a  first,  second,  third,  fourth  or  fifth  reader.  It  was 


264  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

in  arithmetic,  however,  that  the  defects  of  the  early  system  of  educational  train- 
ing were  the  most  apparent.  In  this  there  was  absolutely  no  order  or  system. 
There  were  no  classes  and  each  pupil,  provided  with  an  arithmetic,  slate  and 
pencil,  "ciphered"  on  at  his  own  pleasure,  without  explanation  or  verification. 
He  was  required  to  commit  the  rules  to  memory,  or  so  much  of  them  as  was 
printed  in  italics.  This  done,  he  launched  out  into  the  solution  of  the  problems, 
having  but  one  object  in  view,  and  that  was  to  obtain  the  answer  given.  The 
whys  and  wherefores  of  the  different  steps  taken  in  procuring  the  answer  were 
matters  of  no  concern  whatever.  The  "sum"  stated,  and  the  thus  saith  the  rule, 
were  all  the  pupil  desired  and  all  that  the  teacher  required.  It  was  a  kind  of  me- 
chanical process  that  he  went  through,  without  being  able  to  give  a  single  reason 
for  a  single  step  taken,  except  the  mere  fact  that  the  rule  said  so  and  so.  When 
the  pupil  came  to  an  example,  which,  after  a  trial  or  two,  he  failed  to  obtain  the 
answer  given,  he  reported  the  fact  to  the  teacher  and  the  solution  was  given  on 
the  slate,  often  without  explanation,  and  the  pupil  returned  to  his  place  in  the 
schoolroom  satisfied,  not  because  he  understood  the  modus  operandi,  but  because 
he  had  the  required  answer.  This  process  was  kept  up  until  the  pupil  had 
progressed  as  far  as  the  "single"  or  perhaps  the  "double  rule  of  three,"  which  was 
generally  regarded  as  the  ultima  thule  in  mathematical  education,  and  that,  too, 
quite  often  from  an  inability  on  the  part  of  the  teacher  to  conduct — if  conduct 
it  may  be  called — his  pupil  farther.  All  that  lay  beyond  that,  as  a  usual  thing, 
was  as  a  sealed  book — a  frozen  sea  on  which  the  pupil  dared  not,  or  considered 
it  useless,  to  venture.  The  arithmetics  of  the  early  days  were  far  inferior  and 
less  suitable  for  pupils  than  those  of  today.  The  old  dry  pages  of  Duball,  with 
their  pounds,  shillings  and  pence,  would  make  a  fit  subject  for  comparison  with 
the  old  bar-shear  plow  of  fifty  years  ago.  If  these  two  articles  of  the  past  were 
not  on  exhibition  at  the  Centennial  of  1876,  they  should  have  been,  as  mementoes 
of  the  past  to  mark  our  onward  steps  of  progress. 

English  grammar  was  a  study  seldom  pursued.  It  was  considered  as  rather 
too  effeminate  in  its  nature  for  the  hardy  sons  who  grew  up  in  the  early  days  of 
the  county.  It  was  sometimes  studied,  however,  by  the  girls,  as  being  more 
suitable  to  their  natures  and  mental  characteristics.  It  was  not  until  within  the 
last  few  years  that  anatomy,  physiology  and  hygiene  were  made  a  part  of  the 
common-school  curriculum.  The  laws  of  life  and  health  were  singularly  omitted 
in  the  education  of  the  children  under  the  old  system  of  education.  It  was  con- 
sidered, however,  as  highly  proper  that  the  children  should  spend  nine-tenths  of 
their  school  days  in  learning  to  spell  the  contents  of  Webster's  Elementary  from 
asperity  to  the  pictures,  without  for  once  learning  the  simplest  rudiments  per- 
taining to  the  preservation  of  health  and  life. 

The  methods  of  recitation  and  teachings  were  different  from  those  of  today, 
and  the  modes  of  study  and  deportment  of  the  pupils  were  also  very  different. 
It  was  quite  common  during  school  hours  for  all  the  pupils  to  study  aloud,  some 
reading,  some  spelling,  some  reciting,  some  in  one  tone  of  voice  and  some  in 
another,  and  all  striving,  seemingly,  to  make  a  bedlam  equal  to  Babel.  There 
were  swells  in  the  general  racket  when  it  seemed  impossible  to  distinguish  in 
the  din,  one  idea  of  human  origin  or  sense.  The  noise  and  confusion  were  worse 
confounded  than  the  jabbering  of  an  army  of  monkeys  in  Africa.  This  would 


Gillespie    High    School 

Staunton    School — rear    view    showing;    also 

the   1'riinary  Department,  which   is 

separate  from  the  main   building 

Public  School.  Bunker  Hill 
Xew   Public  School.   Piilmvra 


Stuuntoir  School 

Public   School.   Mt.   Olive 

Old    Public   School.   Palmyra 

Brighton    Public   School 


LIBRARY 

OF  TH£ 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  265 

gradually  die  out  until  some  little  urchin,  alone,  would  be  heard  unconsciously 
conning  over  his  b-a-k-e-r  baker,  s-h-a-d-y  shady — the  only  audible  sound  to  .be 
heard  in  the  whole  room.  He,  too,  when  nudged  in  the'  side  by  some  seat  mate, 
would  see  the  ridiculousness  of  the  situation  and  relapse  into  profound  silence. 
Then  the  condition  of  affairs  would  fitly  illustrate  the  saying  that  "after  a  storm 
the  sea  grows  calm." 

The  schoolhouses  were  likewise  worthy  of  mention.  They  were  almost  in- 
variably built  of  logs  and  were  "chinked  and  daubed."  Some  of  them  had  no 
floors,  and  those  that  did  have  the  floors  were  made  of  puncheons  hewed  upon 
one  side  and  not  altogether  as  smooth  as  marble  floors.  The  schoolhouse  was 
heated  from  a  large  fire  place  at  one  end  of  the  room.  These  fire  places  were  of 
capacious  dimensions.  Huge  logs  were  often  rolled  in  or  carried  in  by  the 
teacher  and  scholars,  that,  except  in  length  would  have  made  good  saw  logs. 
The  chimneys  were  made  of  wood  and  clay,  of  sufficient  size  to  have  permitted 
a  good  sized  yearling  elephant  to  have  been  thrown  down  them.  Of  course 
most  of  the  heat  from  the  fire  places  below  passed  up  the  chimney,  instead  of 
being  thrown  out  into  the  room.  The  windows  were  usually  made  by  cutting  out 
a  log  upon  one  side  of  the  schoolhouse,  making  the  windows  rather  wide  but  not 
very  high.  Glass,  they  had  none,  for  the  first  schoolhouses,  and  these  "openings 
in  the  wall,"  that  have  been  described,  were  covered  over  with  greased  paper. 
The  effect  of  greasing  the  paper,  in  this  glazing  process,  was  to  make  it  more 
transparent  and  also  tougher,  so  as  to  withstand  the  storms  of  wind  and  rain. 
It  must  have  been  a  mellow  tinted  light,  that  which  was  admitted  through  those 
tallow  dipped  window  panes.  However,  whether  good  or  bad,  it  was  the  only 
makeshift  they  had  until  glass  became  accessible.  The  seats  in  those  old  school- 
houses  would  be  a  terror  to  this  generation.  They,  too,  like  the  floors,  were 
made  of  slabs,  hewed  upon  one  side,  and  of  course,  had  no  backs  to  them.  The 
little  fellows  were  placed  side  by  side  on  those  rough  benches,  six,  eight,  or  ten 
in  a  row,  and  scarcely  any  of  these  could  reach  the  floor  with  their  feet,  the 
benches  were  so  high.  Legs  were  driven  into  the  slabs  from  the  lower  side 
and  it  was  not  always  that  they  were  of  the  same  length,  so  that,  at  times,  th'e 
benches  would  rock  from  side  to  side,  greatly  to  the  terror  of  the  little  boys  or 
girls  perched  on  the  top,  as  the  equilibrium  was  changed. 

It  must  not  be  inferred,  however,  from  what  has  been  said,  that  there  were 
no  good  results  growing  up  from  the  educational  facilities  mentioned,  defective 
though  they  were.  Men  have  graced  the  presidential  chair  and  earned  national 
and  world  wide  reputations,  whose  minds  received  their  first  impulses  in  develop- 
ment from  just  such  schoolrooms  and  educational  advantages  as  has  been  men- 
tioned. Bud  Means'  are  quite  common  in  this  western  country.  And  it  may  be 
debatable  ground  today  whether  Oxford  and  Harvard  have  made  more  great 
men  than  the  stinging,  urging  necessities  to  self  improvement  and  self  education, 
growing  out  of  the  defects  and  wants  of  educational  facilities  of  these  pioneer 
colleges.  Perhaps  the  want  of  education  and  the  feeling  of  that  want,  has  built 
as  many  schoolhouses  as  the  possession  of  education,  coupled  with  a  conscious- 
ness of  its  advantages.  "Wittles"  were  what  the  hungry  Sam  Weller  wanted 
most. 


266  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

The  writing  desks  were  made  of  split  logs  and  in  later  days,  of  planks, 
which  were  ranged  around  the  sides  of  the  room,  usually  under  the  windows. 
Pins  were  driven  into  the  wall  and  the  slags  or  planks  laid  on  them,  and  this 
constituted  the  writing  desks  for  a  great  many  years.  They  were  not  of  that 
gilt  edged  and  varnished  sort  of  today,  but  were  quite  as  substantial.  These  are 
the  desks  that  the  boys  took  such  a  vicious  delight  in  defacing  with  their  jack- 
knives.  They  cut  upon  them  all  sorts  of  hieroglyphical  characters,  checker  boards 
and  representations  of  human  beings  and  not  human,  some  of  which  no  doubt, 
would  have  made  Thomas  Nast  ashamed  of  himself.  The  larger  boys  and  girls 
were  privileged  to  sit  at  these  desks,  not  only  while  writing,  but  while  "doing 
their  sums."  Blackboards  and  charts  were  unknown  in  those  days  and  in  fact, 
were  not  needed  in  the  method  of  teaching  then  prevailing.  A  good  many 
young  men  remember  when  the  new  fangled  idea  of  a  blackboard  was  looked 
upon  with  a  little  bit  of  distrust  by  some  of  the  kind  hearted  conservative  old 
fellows.  It  was  the  same  old  chaps  who  also  winked  a  kind  of  knowing  wink  at 
each  other  when  the  corn  planter  was  introduced. 

Such  as  has  been  mentioned  were  the  schoolhouses,  school  furniture  and 
schools  of  fifty,  forty,  and  even  thirty  years  ago.  They  were  the  best  that 
could  then  be  afforded.  It  may  seem,  and  it  does  seem,  to  many  who  have  wit- 
nessed the  educational  facilities  above  detailed,  that  the  present  generation  of 
children  does  not  duly  appreciate  the  advantages  that  surround  them.  They  do 
not  perhaps  duly  appreciate  their  advantages  for  the  same  reason  that  the  per- 
son reared  in  wealth  and  luxury  poorly  understands  the  condition  of  the  poverty 
stricken  wretch,  that  ekes  out  a  miserable  existence,  always  on  the  verge  of  want 
and  starvation. 


CHAPTER  XV. 
THE  HEALING  ART. 

THE  PIONEER  PHYSICIAN  AND  HIS  BURDENS THERE  WERE  NO  SPECIALISTS  IN  THOSE 

DAYS MADE  HIS  OWN  PILLS  AND  USED  THE  LANCE  WITH  OR  WITHOUT  PROVOCA- 
TION  QUICK  OF  PERCEPTION  AND  SELF  RELIANT SKETCHES  OF  SOME  PIONEERS 

AND  OTHERS MACOUPIN   COUNTY   MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 

The  pioneers  of  the  healing  art  in  Carlinville  and  Macoupin  county  were  the 
guardians  of  a  widely  dispersed  population.  Aside  from  their  professional  duties 
they  contributed  their  full  share  to  the  material  development  of  a  newly  opened 
country.  Some  were  men  of  culture  who  had  gained  their  medical  education  in 
college ;  the  great  number  were  of  limited  educational  attainment,  whose  profes- 
sional knowledge  had  been  acquired  in  the  offices  of  established  practitioners  of 
more  or  less  ability  in  the  sections  from  which  they  emigrated.  Of  either  class 
almost  without  exception  they  were  practical  men  of  great  force  of  character 
who  gave  cheerful  and  efficacious  assistance  to  the  suffering,  daily  journeying 
on  horseback  scores  of  miles  over  a  country  almost  destitute  of  roads  and  en- 
countering swollen,  unbridged  streams,  without  waterproof  garments  or  other 
now  common  protection  against  the  elements.  Out  of  necessity  the  pioneer 
physician  developed  rare  quickness  of  perception  and  self  reliance.  A  specialist 
was  then  unknown  and  he  was  called  upon  to  treat  every  phase  of  bodily  ail- 
ment, serving  as  physician,  surgeon,  oculist  and  dentist.  His  books  were  few 
and  there  were  no  practitioners  of  more  ability  than  himself  with  whom  he  might 
consult.  His  medicines  were  simple  and  carried  on  his  person,  and  every  prepara- 
tion of  pill  or  solution  was  the  work  of  his  own  hands. 

PIONEERS    IN    THE    PROFESSION. 

As  far  as  the  records  reveal  Dr.  George  Sims  was  a  pioneer  physician  of 
Macoupin  county,  settling  in  North  Palmyra  township  in  1829. 

Dr.  William  King  was  here  as  early  as  1832.  He  was  married  November 
5,  1835,  to  Mrs.  Matilda  Holland,  widowed  sister  of  Oliver  W.  Hall.  In  the 
early  years  of  the  settlement  there  were  no  physicians  and  recourse  was  had  to 
Madison  county.  "Chills  and  fever"  and  other  malarious  maladies  were  the 
chief  complaints,  especially  in  the  summer  and  fall.  Pneumonia  made  its  appear- 
ance to  some  extent  in  the  winter.  In  1833  Dr.  John  W.  Goode  was  practicing 
his  profession  in  Carlinville  and  the  same  year  Dr.  W.  H.  Palmer  was  in  at- 

267 


268  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

tendance  on  the  afflicted,  having  located  in  the  vicinity  of  Scottville,  although 
that  thriving  village  was  not  in  existence  at  the  time.  Drs.  Thomas  and  Joseph 
Conduitte,  Frenchmen,  and  graduates  of  a  Paris  university,  arrived  in  Carlin- 
ville  in  1834,  but  the  place  did  not  meet  their  anticipations  and  ambitions,  and  in 
about  a  year  thereafter  they  moved  to  another  field  of  activity. 

A  regular  graduate  of  one  of  Massachusetts'  medical  institutions  and  pos- 
sessed of  considerable  natural  ability,  Dr.  John  R.  Lewis  determined  to  make 
his  way  in  his  chosen  profession  and  in  1834  settled  in  the  then  embryo  city  of 
Carlinville. 

Dr.  John  R.  Smith  came  to  Carlinville  in  1835.  He  was  a  Virginian  by 
birth,  a  man  of  erudition  and  skilled  in  his  profession.  He  associated  himself 
with  Dr.  Zopher  Jayne,  who  had  preceded  him  the  same  year  in  his  residence 
here.  Dr.  Jayne  was  a  graduate  of  the  Louisville  Medical  College  and  the 
preceptor  of  Dr.  John  Logan  at  their  former  home. 

In  1848  Dr.  John  A.  Halderman  came  to  Macoupin  county  and  located  at  the 
county  seat.  He  was  a  skillful  surgeon,  a  good  physician  of  the  "old  school" 
and  noted  for  his  liberality  when  prescribing  the  size  of  a  dose  of  medicine. 
Doubtless,  there  are  patients  of  his  still  living  who  have  a  lively  remembrance 
of  him  on  that  account.  He  was  the  first  one  to  represent  Macoupin  county  in 
the  State  Medical  Society,  was  one  of  its  charter  members  and  its  first  treasurer 
—in  1850. 

Dr.  Luke  S.  Coons  was  practicing  at  Staunton  in  1835. 

Dr.  Lightfoot  was  the  first  of  the  healing  art  in  Bird  township. 

Dr.  Goode  was  in  North  Otter  in  the  '303  and  Dr.  Vance  in  South  Otter. 

Dr.  Thornton  began  the  practice  in  South  Palmyra  in  1840  and  the  second 
physician  in  that  locality  was  Dr.  H.  J.  Vanwinkle. 

Dr.  Henry  Rhoads  was  in  Chesterfield  attending  to  the  bodily  afflictions  of 
the  settlers  as  early  as  1831,  and  Dr.  Coward  came  in  1833. 

The  first  physician  in  Brighton  was  Dr.  McKee,  who  settled  there  in  1836. 
Dr.  L.  S.  Pennington  followed  him  in  1838. 

Dr.  Ebenezer  Howell  was  practicing  in  Bunker  Hill  in  1837. 

Dr.  John  Logan  was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  in  1809,  and  by  his  own 
efforts  acquired  a  fairly  good  education.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Black  Hawk 
war,  in  1832,  he  was  elected  major  of  the  Ninth  Illinois  Militia  and  saw  some 
service  at  the  front.  He  settled  in  Carlinville  in  1833.  In  1836  he  became  col- 
onel of  the  Forty-fourth  Regiment  of  Militia.  John  Logan  had  learned  carpen- 
try and  worked  at  his  trade  while  reading  medicine.  He  began  the  practice  of 
medicine  in  1838  with  Dr.  James,  remaining  with  the  latter  until  1841.  He  at- 
tended lectures  at  Kemper  College  in  the  winter  of  1840  and  at  St.  Louis  Hospital 
in  1841.  His  clientele  grew  to  a  large  and  lucrative  one  and  so  continued  until  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  when,  in  1861,  he  was  made  colonel  of  the  Thirty- 
second  Illinois  Regiment.  He  served  with  honor  and  distinction  until  December 
30,  1864.  From  1866  until  1870  Dr.  Logan  held  the  office  of  United  States  mar- 
shal of  southern  Illinois,  after  which  he  resumed  his  practice  at  Carlinville.  He 
was  a  skilled  and  successful  physician  and  surgeon  and  as  a  citizen  was  univer- 
sally esteemed.  He  was  married  January  2,  1834,  to  Miss  Sophia  Hall,  sister  of 
Oliver  W.  Hall.  Dr.  Logan's  death  occurred  August  20.  1885. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  269 

Dr.  William  A.  Robertson  was  born  in  Liberty,  Bedford  county,  Virginia, 
October  27,  1803.  He  removed  with  his  parents  to  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  when 
four  years  of  age  and  shortly  thereafter  the  family  removed  to  Lexington,  Ken- 
tucky. His  father  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Lexington  and  shortly 
thereafter  removed  to  Harrodsburg,  Kentucky,  where  he  died.  William  A. 
attained  his  literary  education  at  New  London  Academy  in  Virginia.  He  studied 
medicine  with  his  father  and  then  entered  the  medical  college  at  Lexington, 
where  he  took  a  course  of  lectures.  He  married  Miss  Ellen  Clark  in  1829,  a 
Kentuckian.  In  1830  the  young  couple  came  to  Edwardsville,  in  Madison 
•county,  afterwards  removing  to  Alton.  There  he  practiced  his  profession  but 
subsequently  abandoned  it  and  engaged  in  farming.  The  year  1835  found  him 
in  Carlinville,  where  he  engaged  in  general  merchandising  for  some  years.  A 
short  time  after  his  arrival  here  his  wife  died  and  in  1844  the  Doctor  married 
Nancy  H.,  daughter  of  Rev.  Charles  Holliday. 

Nathan  Duncan,  one  of  the  pioneer  physicians  of  the  county,  settled  in 
Cahokia  township  in  the  early  '305,  where  he  entered  land  from  the  government. 
He  was  not  a  graduate  physician  but  won  his  title  on  account  of  his  home  prac- 
tice, doctoring  with  herbs  which  he  gathered  from  the  woods. 

Dr.  Levi  J.  Woods  came  to  Macoupin  county,  from  Morgan  county,  about 
1842,  and  gave  every  promise  of  becoming  eminent  in  the  practice  of  medicine. 
He  married  Martha  McClure,  daughter  of  James  McClure,  by  whom  there  were 
two  children :  William  M.,  who  became  a  physician ;  and  Fannie,  who  married 
Judge  Whitlock,  of  Jacksonville.  Dr.  Woods  died  of  cholera  in  1851.  He  was 
stricken  with  the  terrible  scourge  and  was  a  corpse  within  twelve  hours.  The 
nature  of  the  disease  was  not  known  at  the  time  either  by  his  physician,  Dr. 
John  A.  Halclerman,  or  others,  and  probably  three  hundred  people  attended  the 
funeral,  many  of  whom  contracted  the  disease  there  and  then  and  soon  followed 
the  young  physician  to  the  grave.  He  was  the  first  one  to  be  stricken  and  die 
in  that  scourge  of  cholera  in  1851.  Three  or  four  of  the  McClure  family  fell 
victims  to  its  ravages  and  the  Anderson  family,  it  was  feared,  would,  by  the 
number  of  deaths  it  sustained,  become  extinct.  Death  was  on  every  hand,  and 
the  terror  of  the  visitation  became  so  intense  and  paralyzing  in  its  effects,  that 
it  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  help  could  be  obtained  to  take  care  of  the  sick 
and  dying.  In  many  instances  the  male  members  of  the  community  were  com- 
pelled to  nurse  women  on  their  beds  of  sickness,  their  frail  sisters  being  too 
overcome  with  fear  and  dread  to  go  near  them.  After  death  the  bodies  were 
buried  as  quickly  as  a  grave  could  be  dug. 

LATER    PHYSICIANS. 

Dr.  John  A.  Delano  was  born  in  New  Braintree,  Massachusetts,  April  5, 
1816.  He  acquired  a  common-school  education  and  was  graduated  from  Am- 
herst  College  in  the  class  of  1836,  one  of  his  schoolmates  being  Rev.  Henry 
Ward  Beecher.  He  then  entered  the  medical  college  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania, from  which  he  was  graduated.  Soon  thereafter  he  came  west.  -  He 
located  in  Bunker  Hill  in  1841  and  in  a  very  short  time  had  all  the  practice  to 


270  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

which  he  could  attend.  Dr.  Delano  was  married  in  Bunker  Hill  to  Mrs.  Anna 
Williams  Ring,  a  native  of  New  York.  His  death  occurred  April  14,  1887. 

Dr.  J.  P.  Binney  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  in  1819,  and  began  the 
study  of  medicine  in  Lancaster,  England,  at  the  early  age  of  fifteen.  He  came 
to  the  United  States  in  1842  and  the  same  year  found  him  in  Macoupin  county. 
Soon  after  his  arrival  he  began  practice  at  Staunton,  in  which  he  was  successful 
both  professionally  and  materially.  He  retired  in  1888. 

Dr.  John  W.  Hankins  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey  and  emigrated  to  Illinois 
in  1846,  locating  in  Carlinville.  He  married  Elizabeth  McKee,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania. They  were  the  parents  of  Robert  A.  Hankins,  who  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  town  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years 
entered  Blackburn  University,  remaining  there  two  years  studying  anatomy  and 
physiology  preparatory  to  entering  the  profession  of  medicine.  He  attended 
a  course  of  lectures  at  the  Eclectic  Medical  College  at  Philadelphia  in  1869  and 
then  returned  home.  In  1871  he  attended  another  course  of  lectures  in  the  same 
college  and  graduated  from  the  institution  in  1872,  with  the  degree  of  M.  D. 
He  at  once  took  up  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Carlinville,  in  which  he 
has  become  more  than  ordinarily  successful.  A  complete  sketch  of  Dr.  Hankins 
will  be  found  in  the  biographical  volume  of  this  work. 

Dr.  Edward  C.  Ellet  practiced  medicine  at  Bunker  Hill  for  thirty  years  and 
then  retired.  He  was  born  near  Bristol,  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania,  Septem- 
ber 25,  1819.  Dr.  Ellet  became  a  resident  of  Bunker  Hill  township  in  1839, 
locating  ten  miles  north  of  Bunker  Hill,  where  he  and  his  brother  Alfred  founded 
the  village  called  Plainview.  As  soon  as  he  had  accumulated  sufficient  funds  he 
entered  Jefferson  Medical  College  at  Philadelphia,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
in  1849.  He  immediately  thereafter  opened  an  office  in  Bunker  Hill  and  asso- 
ciated with  himself  Dr.  E.  Howell.  This  partnership  continued  for  twenty 
years,  proving  mutually  profitable  and  pleasant.  Dr.  Howell  lived  to  a  ripe 
old  age,  eventually  removing  to  McLean  county.  Dr.  Ellet  was  married  in 
Bunker  Hill  to  Miss  Lydia  Miller  in  1850. 

Martin  H.  Head  became  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  Macoupin  county, 
practicing  his  profession  with  honor  and  distinction  for  many  years  at  Carlin- 
ville, where  he  was  held  in  honor  and  esteem  by  a  large  circle  of  friends  and 
acquaintances.  Dr.  Head  was  born  May  3,  1827,  near  Louisville,  Kentucky. 
He  was  raised  on  a  farm  and  assisted  his  widowed  mother  until  the  age  of 
twenty-one,  in  the  meantime  attending  school.  Upon  reaching  his  majority  he 
commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  M.  Bemis,  of  Middleton,  Ken- 
tucky, after  which  he  attended  medical  lectures  at  Louisville,  graduating  from 
the  Louisville  Medical  College  in  1851.  The  same  year  he  came  to  Carlinville. 
opened  an  office  and  at  once  entered  upon  practice.  In  1861,  at  the  outbreak  of 
the  Civil  war,  he  offered  his  professional  services  to  the  government  and  be- 
came assistant  surgeon  of  the  Fourteenth  Illinois  Infantry.  In  1862  he  was  on 
duty  as  a  physician  in  the  hospital  at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  and  in  1865  was 
transferred  to  Crittenden  Hospital  at  St.  Louis,  where  he  was  stationed  until 
the  following  October  and  then  honorably  discharged.  Taking  up  his  practice 
at  Carlinville,  he  continued  therein  with  success  and  distinction.  In  1853  Dr. 
Head  married  Margaret  I.  Blackburn,  a  native  of  Versailles,  Kentucky,  a  daugh- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  271 

ter  of  the  Rev.  John  and  Catherine  (Edwards)   Blackburn.     They  became  the 
parents  of  two  children,  Eugene  S.,  a  physician,  and  Hadley. 

Dr.  John  Ash  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Brighton  in  1853.  He  acquired  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
and  graduated  from  Pennsylvania  Medical  College  at  Philadelphia  in  1851. 
He  came  at  once  to  Delhi,  Jersey  county,  Illinois,  but  in  the  same  year  removed 
to  Piasa,  coming  to  Brighton  in  1853. 

Charles  Edward  Smith  was  born  in  New  York  and  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  Ohio.  He  then  taught  school  in  Mississippi,  where  he  read  medicine  and 
in  1854  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Cummington,  now  a  part  of  Pal- 
myra. Here  he  remained  until  1857,  when  he  removed  to  Nilwood,  making  that 
place  his  permanent  home.  He  is  now  deceased. 

M.  W.  Seaman  was  born  at  Glens  Falls,  New  York,  on  the  i3th  of  January, 
1830.  His  parents  dying  early,  young  Seaman  was  adopted  by  Jabez  Biggs, 
with  whom  he  remained  until  his  twenty-second  year.  In  the  meantime  he  re- 
ceived an  education  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  village  and  the  Glens 
Falls  Academy,  where  he  took  an  academical  course.  After  remaining  at  the 
academy  four  years  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  Peck  and  commenced  the  study 
of  medicine.  Shortly  thereafter  he  placed  himself  under  the  guidance  of 
Dr.  Thomas  Hun,  professor  of  physiology  in  Albany  Medical  College.  At- 
tending three  courses  of  lectures  in  the  above  named  institution,  his  graduation 
occurred  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  in  1853.  He  then  began  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  Glens  Falls  and  in  1854  emigrated  west,  settling  in  Lawrence, 
Kansas.  In  the  latter  part  of  that  year  he  located  at  Shipman,  where  he  taught 
school  the  following  winter  and  on  the  ist  of  March,  1855,  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  and  became  successful.  During  the  Civil  war  Dr.  Seaman 
was  appointed  assistant  surgeon  to  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-second  Regi- 
ment, Colonel  John  I.  Rinaker  commanding.  This  was  in  1862.  In  1863  he 
was  promoted  to  the  position  of  surgeon  of  a  regiment.  During  a  portion  of 
the  time  he  was  brigade  surgeon  and  in  1864  was  post  surgeon  at  Cairo,  Illinois. 
He  remained  in  the  service  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  returned  to  Ship- 
man and  resumed  his  practice.  In  the  practice  of  medicine  Dr  Seaman  stood 
in  the  foremost  rank  of  his  profession.  He  was  the  first  president  of  the  first 
medical  society  organized  in  the  county,  also  a  member  of  the  State  Medical 
Society.  He  is  now  deceased. 

Dr.  John  Pitt  Matthews  was  born  at  Hampton  Court,  Herfordshire,  Eng- 
land, September  2,  1835,  and  died  January  7,  1909.  He  spent  the  first  eighteen 
years  of  his  life  as  a  farmer  boy,  giving  his  winters  to  study  and  his  summers 
to  his  labors  on  the  farm.  He  had  migrated  to  this  country  with  his  parents 
m  1864.  When  eighteen  years  of  age  young  Matthews  entered  Duff's  Mercan- 
tile College  at  Pittsburg  and  took  a  mathematical  course.  He  then  entered  Alle- 
gheny College  at  Meadville,  Pennsylvania,  remaining  there  two  years,  on  the 
expiration  of  which  period  he  pointed  his  face  westward  and  arrived  in  Greene 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  taught  school  one  winter  term,  one  term  at  Kane,  and 
a  year  and  a  half  at  Greenfield  Academy.  While  at  Kane  he  commenced  read- 
ing medicine  under  Dr.  P.  Finnerty,  and  afterward  took  a  course  in  the  medical 
department  of  Iowa  University  at  Keokuk  and  then  commenced  the  practice  of 


272  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

his  profession  in  Scottville,  Macoupin  county,  continuing  until  1862,  when  he 
entered  the  United  States  service  as  assistant  surgeon  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-second  Illinois  Volunteers.  After  one  year  he  came  home  on  account 
of  sickness  and  in  the  fall  of  1863  resumed  practice  in  Carlinville  in  connection 
with  Dr.  E.  E.  Webster.  In  1865  he  attended  a  course  of  lectures  and  graduated 
at  Long  Island  College  Hospital,  New  York.  Dr.  Matthews  belonged  to  the 
progressive  school  of  physicians  as  may  be  readily  known  by  his  connection  with 
the  different  county,  state  and  national  medical  associations.  He  took  first  rank 
in  his  profession.  Personally  and  socially  Dr.  Matthews  possessed  rare  quali- 
ties and  by  his  upright  and  manly  life  won  an  honorable  name  in  the  community. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Betty,  daughter  of  John  M.  Palmer,  in  1865,  and  to 
them  were  born  four  children;  but  only  three  are  living:  John  Palmer,  now  a 
practicing  physician  in  Carlinville;  Lucy  Myra;  and  Frederick  Webster  Mat- 
thews. His  widow  is  still  a  resident  of  Carlinville. 

Dr.  Reuben  J.  Allmond  was  born  in  Wilmington,  Delaware,  in  1818  and 
commenced  the  study  of  medicine  when  he  was  sixteen  years  old.  being  ma- 
triculated at  Jefferson  Medical  College  at  Philadelphia,  taking  his  diploma  there 
in  the  spring  of  1839.  After  practicing  in  various  places  he  removed  to  Piasa, 
Macoupin  county,  in  1858,  where  he  practiced  until  1861,  when  he  made  his 
permanent  home  in  Palmyra. 

Dr.  T.  Warren  Floyd  was  one  of  the  early  physicians  at  Gillespie,  locating 
there  in  1859.  His  death  occurred  in  1876.  He  was  a  native  of  Kentucky  and 
obtained  his  early  education  in  the  common  schools,  afterward  attending  Mc- 
Kendree  College  at  Lebanon  in  his  native  state.  His  preparatory  medical  studies 
were  made  in  the  office  of  Dr.  Drake  of  Greenville  and  his  graduation  followed 
from  a  medical  college  at  Chicago.  He  married  Anna  E.  Caudry.  in  1860,  a 
daughter  of  John  L.  Caudry,  who  settled  in  Cahokia  township  in  1859.  Dr. 
Floyd  secured  a  well  deserved  reputation  as  a  physician  and  was  highly  esteemed 
both  for  his  professional  skill  and  his  many  qualities  as  a  citizen  and  as  a  gen- 
tleman. 

Dr.  Jacob  T.  Dickerson,  a  native  of  Delaware,  graduated  from  the  Phila- 
delphia Eclectic  College  in  1860.  In  the  summer  of  the  same  year  he  located 
in  Brighton  and  began  the  practice  of  medicine,  in  which  he  became  successful. 
He  finally  abandoned  the  labors  of  a  physician  and  established  a  drug  store  to 
which  he  gave  his  whole  attention. 

Dr.  George  Bley  was  born  at  Dettingen,  Wittenburg,  Germany,  January  12, 
1821.  He  came  to  this  country  with  his  father  in  1832.  Leaving  home  at  the 
age  of  twelve,  he  was  apprenticed  when  fifteen  to  the  drug  busness  in  Phila- 
delphia. There  he  opened  a  drug  store  on  his  own  account  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one.  Determining  to  became  a  physician,  young  Bley  attended  lectures  at  Jef- 
ferson Medical  College  in  1845  and  in  the  years  1848,  1849  ar>d  1850  was  a  stu- 
dent at  Philadelphia  College  of  Medicine,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1850. 
He  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Philadelphia,  removing  to  Scott 
county,  Iowa,  in  1855,  to  Rock  Island,  Illinois,  in  1858,  Monroe  county,  .  nois, 
in  1859,  and  to  Staunton.  Macoupin  county,  in  October,  1861,  where  in  1869 
he  opened  a  drug  store.  Dr.  Bley  was  known  as  a  skilled  physician  and  a  good 
citizen.  He  married  Elizabeth  W.  Lav:s  in  1846,  by  whom  he  had  six  children. 


4 


METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.   CHESTERFIELD 


EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.   CHESTEREIEU) 


LIBrtAHY 

OF   IH£ 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  273 

David  L.  Bley  and  Robert  E.  Bley,  the  two  sons,  graduated  at  Jefferson  Medical 
College,  Philadelphia,  the  former  in  1875  and  the  latter  in  1877,  and  began  prac- 
ticing medicine  at  Staunton. 

Dr.  Robert  J.  Hornsby  was  born  in  Shelby  county,  Kentucky,  in  1819.  His 
father  sent  him  to  school  in  Jefferson  county,  Kentucky,  and  then  to  Danville 
College,  from  which  he  entered  the  college  at  Shelbyville,  Shelby  county.  Leav- 
ing college,  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  Benjamin  W.  Dudley,  of  Lexington, 
Kentucky,  one  of  the  prominent  physicians  of  that  city,  with  a  wide  reputation 
as  a  surgeon.  Here  he  studied  for  two  years,  and  graduating,  began  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  in  Kentucky,  where  he  remained  for  three  years.  He  then 
came  to  Illinois  and  entered  land  in  Madison  county.  From  November,  1849, 
until  1862  Dr.  Hornsby  practiced  medicine  near  Jefferson  Barracks,  St.  Louis. 
In  1854  he  laid  out  and  founded  the  town  of  Clyde,  Macoupin  county,  and  four 
years  later,  in  connection  with  L.  L.  Dorsey  laid  out  the  village  of  Prairie  City. 
Dr.  Hornsby  married  Frances  Cordelia  Dorsey,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  born  in 
1825.  Dr.  Hornsby  located  in  Gillespie  in  1862,  where  he  became  quite  suc- 
cessful and  then  removed  to  Bunker  Hill. 

Robert  S.  Cowan,  a  native  of  Tennessee,  was  born  March  9,  1833.  He  ar- 
rived in  Macoupin  county  in  1865  and  began  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Nil  wood, 
where  he  remained  until  1869,  when  he  removed  to  Girard  and  practiced  there 
for  many  years.  Dr.  Cowan  was  a  member  of  the  Macoupin  County  Medical 
Society  and  also  of  the  State  Medical  Society. 

Dr.  William  A.  Shriver  was  a  native  of  Ohio  and  began  the  study  of  med- 
icine with  Dr.  Pitzer  of  St.  Louis.  He  attended  lectures  at  the  Eclectic  Medical 
Institute  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  received  a  diploma.  He  began  practice  at 
Virden  in  1866  and  soon  gained  a  reputation  as  a  successful  physician. 

Dr.  Albert  Campbell  Corr  specialized  on  diseases  of  the  eye,  ear  and  throat 
and  associated  with  him  his  wife,  Dr.  L.  H.  Corr,  both  of  whom  became  prom- 
inent in  the  profession.  Dr.  Albert  Corr  was  a  native  of  Macoupin  county,  his 
birth  occurring  in  Honey  Point  township,  February  10,  1840.  He  received  his 
early  education  in  the  pioneer  schools  and  in  1863  entered  Blackburn  University. 
In  1864  he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-third  Illinois 
Volunteers,  in  which  he  served  four  months.  He  then  returned  to  the  farm  and 
at  intervals  began  the  study  of  medicine.  The  year  1865  found  him  at  Chicago 
Medical  College,  where  he  remained  a  student  two  years.  During  the  vacation 
of  his  last  year  he  studied  in  the  office  of  Drs.  J.  P.  and  L.  Matthews,  of  Car- 
linville.  March  4,  1868,  was  the  date  of  his  graduation,  soon  after  which  he 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Chesterfield,  remaining  there  seven  years, 
when  he  took  up  the  practice  in  Carlinville.  He  was  one  of  the  charter  members 
of  the  Macoupin  County  Medical  Society,  which  was  organzed  in  1873.  He 
became  its  president  in  1880.  In  1886  Dr.  Corr  relinquished  his  general  prac- 
tice to  devote  himself  to  specializing  on  diseases  of  the  eye,  ear  and  throat. 
April  20,  1865,  the  marriage  of  Dr.  Corr  and  Miss  Lucinda  Hall  occurred.  She 
also  become  his  associate  professionally.  Dr.  Corr  was  the  first  delegate  from 
the  County  Medical  Society  to  the  State  Medical  Society  and  the  third  physician 
in  Macoupin  county  admitted  to  membership  in  that  organization,  Dr.  John  A. 
Halderman,  one  of  its  charter  members,  being  the  first  and  Dr.  J.  P.  Matthews 


274  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

the  second.  He  was  also  a  charter  member  and  surgeon  of  Dan  Messick  Post, 
No.  339,  G.  A.  R.  A  complete  sketch  of  the  Doctor  will  be  found  in  the  bio- 
graphical volume  of  this  work. 

Dr.  C.  T.  Buffington  was  born  in  Jersey  county,  Illinois,  in  1856.  He  was  the 
son  of  a  physician,  one  of  the  oldest  in  Jersey  county.  Dr.  Buffington  being  a 
natural  student  and  of  an  investigating  mind,  gave  his  early  attention  to  the 
study  of  his  profession.  After  reading  medicine  with  his  father  he  took  up  the 
study  under  the  direction  of  Drs.  Hadway  and  Lyon  of  Jerseyville,  and  after- 
ward practiced  with  them  until  he  located  in  Shaw's  Point  township  in  1869, 
soon  acquiring  a  lucrative  and  extensive  clientele.  Dr.  Buffington  married  Miss 
Jennie  Masters,  daughter  of  John  B.  Masters,  in  1875. 

Dr.  William  Dwight  Graham  was  a  son  of  Milo  and  Hannah  (Dugger) 
Graham,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Dr.  Graham  was  an  early  physician  of 
Carlinville  and  for  forty-two  years  engaged  in  the  drug  business  in  this  city. 
He  was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war  and  died  in  1906,  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight 
years.  His  widow  survives  him  and  is  a  resident  of  Carlinville.  A  more  ex- 
tended sketch  will  be  found  in  Volume  II. 

Dr.  A.  R.  Sawyer  was  one  of  the  early  physicians  of  Bunker  Hill.  In  1867 
he  became  proprietor  of  the  Union  Gazette  at  that  place.  He  died  in  1868. 

Dr.  Levi  Hutchinson,  for  many  years  deceased,  was  also  one  of  the  early 
physicians  of  Bunker  Hill. 

Dr.  Isaac  R.  Lane  located  for  practice  in  Chesterfield  in  1868  and  there  re- 
mained until  1883,  when  he  removed  to  Mountain  Grove,  Missouri,  and  there 
died  May  19,  1911. 

Robert  J.  Mitchell  became  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  Girard.  He  was 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  In  the  fall  of  1869  he  entered  Rush  Medical  College 
at  Chicago  and  graduated  with  the  class  of  1871.  A  few  weeks  thereafter  Dr. 
Mitchell  located  in  Girard,  where  he  soon  gained  the  esteem  of  a  large  clientele 
for  his  professional  knowledge  and  practical  ability. 

Dr.  Joseph  Hunter  was  born  in  Virginia,  September  2,  1837.  He  was  raised 
and  obtained  his  education  at  Bath  and  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr. 
Joseph  Brown,  later  attending  medical  college  in  Cincinnati.  In  1858  he  was  a 
resident  of  Greenfield,  Illinois.  Dr.  Hunter  became  a  surgeon  in  the  Civil  war 
and  had  charge  of  the  refugee  hospital  at  Jackson  under  General  R.  J.  Oglesby. 
By  reason  of  disability  he  left  the  service  and  returned  to  Illinois,  settling  in 
Medora  in  the  spring  of  1872.  Here  he  established  a  drug  store,  which  he 
carried  on  in  connection  with  his  practice. 

Dr.  Charles  H.  Black  began  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Dorchester  in  1873. 
He  had  read  medicine  in  1870  in  the  office  of  Dr.  William  A.  Allen,  of  Green- 
ville, and  in  the  fall  of  1871  entered  the  Chicago  Medical  College,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  the  spring  of  1873.  He  soon  thereafter  began  his  medical  career 
at  Woodburn,  in  Macoupin  county,  and  in  November  of  the  same  year  estab- 
lished himself  as  a  physician  at  Dorchester.  He  made  a  good  professional 
record. 

Dr.  William  A.  Allen  was  born  in  Green  county,  Illinois,  October  28,  1848. 
He  received  his  elementary  schooling  at  his  native  place  and  then  entered  Black- 
burn College  in  Carlinville,  where  he  remained  two  years,  after  which  he 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  275 

taught  two  terms  and  at  the  same  time  read  medicine.  He  entered  the  office  of 
Dr.  R.  M.  Wilson,  at  Palmyra,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  as  a  student,  where 
he  remained  a  year  and  a  half.  He  then  entered  Rush  Medical  College  of 
Chicago,  graduating  from  that  institution  in  the  spring  of  1874.  Immediately 
thereafter  Dr.  Wilson  began  practice  in  Palmyra,  where  he  remained  until 
the  following  spring.  Dr.  Allen  bought  the  practice  of  Dr.  Wilson  in  1876 
and  located  permanently  in  Palmyra,  at  once  entering  upon  a  lucrative  prac- 
tice. He  was  married  to  Anna  Corn,  daughter  of  A.  M.  Corn,  near  Decatur. 

Dr.  George  Herbert  Gilson  was  born  in  the  village  of  Brighton,  Macoupin 
county,  September  15,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of  James  W.  Gilson.  The  young  man 
attended  the  common  schools  until  his  seventeenth  year,  when  he  entered  Black- 
burn University,  at  Carlinville,  and  took  a  scientific  course.  After  remaining 
there  three  years  he  commenced  reading  medicine  and  in  1874  entered  the 
St.  Louis  Medical  College,  graduating  therefrom  in  the  spring  of  1876.  He 
immediately  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Shipman,  this  county 
where  he  succeeded  in  building  up  a  lucrative  and  extensive  practice. 

Dr.  Charles  J.  C.  Fischer  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  born  in  Madison  county, 
January  28,  1854.  When  sixteen  years  old  he  began  the  study  of  Latin  and 
German  under  a  private  tutor.  Soon  after  completing  these  branches  he  be- 
gan reading  medicine  under  the'  guidance  of  Dr.  A.  M.  Powell,  after  which  he 
attended  lectures  in  St.  Louis  Medical  College,  graduating  therefrom  in  1877. 
He  was  married  in  1879  to  Sofie  Schuricht,  whose  birth  place  was  St.  Louis, 
Missouri.  The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Macoupin  County  Medical  Society, 
Illinois  Medical  Society  and  Mississippi  Valley  Medical  Association. 

Robert  E.  Bley  became  a  practitioner  at  Bunker  Hill  in  1877.  He  was  a 
son  of  Dr.  George  Bley,  one  of  the  pioneer  physicians  of  the  county. 

Dr.  Marvel  Thomas  is  a  native  of  Macoupin  county,  born  in  Gillespie  town- 
ship, October  8,  1855.  He  entered  Blackburn  University  in  the  fall  of  1873, 
graduating  with  the  degree  of  B.  S.  He  then  entered  Missouri  Medical  Col- 
lege at  St.  Louis,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1884.  He  at  once  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Palmyra,  where  he  remained  until  1890. 

MEDICAL   SOCIETIES. 

The  first  effort  toward  organizing  a  medical  society  in  Macoupin  county 
was  the  result  of  a  resolution  offered  before  the  State  Medical  Society,  by  Dr. 
John  A.  Halderman,  in  1856.  But  when  the  society  came  into  being  cannot 
now  be  determined  definitely.  The  year  here  mentioned  must  suffice  for  the 
purposes  of  this  article.  There  is  still  extant  a  pamphlet,  published  in  that 
year,  in  which  is  given  the  constitution  and  by-laws  of  the  society,  the  names  of 
its  members  and  officers ;  also  a  code  of  ethics  governing  the  profession  and  an 
established  fee  bill.  This  pamphlet  was  printed  at  the  office  of  the  Spectator. 

The  official  list  of  names  of  the  Macoupin  County  Medical  Society  for  the 
year  1856  was  as  follows : 

President,  John  A.  Halderman ;  vice  president,  John  Logan ;  secretary,  Alex- 
ander P.  Bettersworth ;  treasurer,  John  W.  Hankins;  board  of  censors,  John 
A.  Halderman,  John  Logan,  M.  Morton;  publishing  committee,  Alexander  P. 


276  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIX  COUNTY 

Bettersworth,  John  Logan,  M.  Morton.  Members,  J.  A.  Halderman,  A.  P. 
Bettersworth,  J.  W.  Trabue,  W.  B.  Brink,  E.  E.  Webster,  J.  D.  Marshall,  C.  H. 
Holliday,  E.  Howell,  Bunker  Hill;  J.  Logan,  J.  W.  Hankins,  Charles  E.  Smith, 
Palmyra;  F.  Jones,  A.  Miller,  J.  Ash,  Brighton;  E.  C.  Ellet,  M.  W.  Seaman, 
Shipman;  A.  Hildreth,  Chesterfield. 

Among  other  things  mentioned  in  the  "code"  were  paragraphs  relating  to 
"the  duties  of  the  profession  to  the  public,  and  the  obligations  of  the  public  to 
the  profession,"  which  are  deemed  worthy  of  reproduction  and  follow  below : 

DUTIES    OF    THE    PROFESSION    TO   THE    PUBLIC. 

Section  i.  As  good  citizens,  it  is  the  duty  of  physicians  to  be  ever  vigilant  for 
the  welfare  of  the  community,  and  to  bear  their  part  in  sustaining  its  institu- 
tions and  burdens ;  they  should  also  be  ever  ready  to  give  counsel  to  the  public 
in  relation  to  matters  especially  appertaining  to  their  profession,  as  on  subjects 
of  medical  police,  public  hygiene  and  legal  medicine.  It  is  their  province  to  en- 
lighten the  public  in  regard  to  quarantine  regulations,  the  location,  anangement 
and  dietaries  of  hospitals,  asylums,  schools,  prisons  and  similar  institutions; 
in  relation  to  the  medical  police  of  towns,  as  drainage,  ventilation,  etc.  and  in 
regard  to  measures  for  the  prevention  of  epidemic  and  contagious  diseases ;  and 
when  pestilence  prevails,  it  is  their  duty  to  face  the  danger,  and  to  continue 
their  labors  for  the  alleviation  of  the  suffering,  even  at  the  jeopardy  of  their 
own  lives. 

Section  2.  Medical  men  should  also  be  always  ready  when  called  upon  by 
the  legally  constituted  authorities,  to  enlighten  coroners'  inquests  and  courts 
of  justice,  on  subjects  strictly  medical,  such  as  involve  questions  relating  to 
sanity,  legitimacy,  murder  by  poisons  or  other  violent  means ;  and  in  regard  to  the 
other  various  subjects  embraced  in  the  science  of  medical  jurisprudence.  But  in 
these  cases,  and  especially  where  they  are  required  to  make  postmortem  ex- 
amination, it  is  just,  in  consequence  of  the  time,  labor  and  skill  required,  and 
the  responsibility  and  the  risk  they  incur,  that  the  public  should  award  them  a 
proper  honorarium. 

Section  3.  There  is  no  profession,  by  the  members  of  which  eleemosynary 
services  are  more  liberally  dispensed  than  the  medical ;  but  justice  requires  that 
some  limits  should  be  placed  to  the  performance  of  such  good  offices.  Pov- 
erty, professional  brotherhood,  and  certain  public  duties  referred  to  in  section 
one  of  this  chapter,  should  always  be  recognized  as  presenting  claims  for  gratu- 
itous services ;  but  neither  institutions  endowed  by  the  public,  or  by  rich  in- 
dividuals, societies  for  mutual  benefit,  for  the  insurance  of  lives,  or  for  an- 
alogous purposes,  nor  any  profession  or  occupation,  can  be  admitted  to  possess 
such  privilege.  Nor  can  it  be  justly  expected  of  physicians  to  furnish  certifi- 
cates of  inability  to  serve  on  juries,  to  perform  militia  duty,  or  to  testify  to  the 
state  of  health  of  persons  wishing  to  insure  their  lives,  obtain  pensions,  or 
the  like,  without  a  pecuniary  acknowledgement.  But  to  individuals  in  indigent 
circumstances,  such  professional  services  should  always  be  cheerfully  and  freely 
accorded. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  277 

Section  4.  It  is  the  duty  of  physicians,  who  are  frequent  witnesses  of  the 
enormities  committed  by  quackery,  and  the  injury  to  health  and  even  destruction 
of  life,  caused  by  the  use  of  quack  medicines,  to  enlighten  the  public  on  these 
subiects,  to  expose  the  injuries  sustained  by  the  unwary  from  the  devices  and 
pretentions  of  artful  empirics  and  impostors.  Physicians  ought  to  use  all  the 
influence  which  they  possess,  as  professors  in  colleges  of  pharmacy,  and  by 
exercising  their  option  in  regard  to  the  shops  to  which  their  prescriptions  shall 
be  sent,  to  discourage  druggists  and  apothecaries  from  vending  quack  or  secret 
medicines,  or  from  being  in  any  way  engaged  in  their  manufacture  or  sale. 

OBLIGATIONS  OF  THE  PUBLIC  TO  PHYSICIANS. 

Section  i.  The  benefits  accruing  to  the  public  directly  and  indirectly  from 
the  active  and  unwearied  beneficence  of  the  profession,  are  so  numerous  and 
important  that  physicians  are  justly  entitled  to  the  utmost  consideration  and 
respect  from  the  community.  The  public  ought  likewise  to  entertain  a  just 
appreciation  of  medical  qualifications,  to  make  a  proper  discrimination  between 
true  science  and  the  assumption  of  ignorance  and  empiricism ;  to  afford  every 
encouragement  and  facility  for  the  acquisition  of  medical  education. 

This  society  lived  how  long?  Xo  one  exactly  knows.  But  its  life  was 
a  short  one  and  several  years  elapsed  before  its  successor  came  into  being. 

In  the  summer  of  1873,  through  the  efforts  of  Drs.  R.  M.  Wilson  and  A.  C. 
Corr,  then  of  Chesterfield,  after  securing  the  endorsement  of  Drs.  J.  P.  Mat- 
thews, John  Logan  and  E.  H.  Head,  the  society  was  reorganized.  The  first 
preliminary  meeting  was  held  in  July,  of  which  Dr.  Corr  was  chosen  as  chair- 
man. But  a  small  number  of  the  fraternity  was  present.  Those  now  recalled 
were  R.  M.  Wilson,  Reuben  J.  Allmond,  W.  C.  Day,  R.  S.  W.  Cowan,  R.  J. 
Mitchell,  J.  R.  Lane  and  C.  E.  Smith. 

For  reasons  then  important,  an  adjournment  was  taken  to  September  16, 
1873,  and  on  that  day  another  meeting  was  held,  at  Shipman.  There  were 
present  then  Drs.  Seaman,  chairman ;  Trabue,  Butler,  Penniman,  Black  and 
Dickerson.  The  organization  was  perfected  by  the  election  of  M.  W.  Seaman, 
president ;  F.  Brother,  vice  president ;  R.  M.  Wilson  and  W.  C.  Day,  secretaries ; 
A.  C.  Corr.  treasurer. 

Carlinville  was  chosen  as  the  first  meeting  place,  but  owing  to  the  non-appear- 
ance of  any  physicians  of  the  county  seat  at  the  organization  meeting,  the  place 
was  changed  to  Girard.  Drs.  Wilson,  Mitchell,  Corr  and  Day  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  draft  a  constitution  and  by-laws ;  Penniman,  Cowan  and  Brother 
were  appointed  as  a  board  of  censors. 

At  the  Girard  meeting,  on  the  third  Tuesday  in  October,  1873,  the  commit- 
tee on  constitution  and  by-laws  reported  and  this  important  measure,  chiefly  the 
work  of  Dr.  Corr,  was  adopted. 

From  this  time  up  to  the  present  the  society  has  held  its  regular  meetings, 
where  papers  pertinent  to  medicine  and  surgery  have  been  read  by  men  from 
various  sections  of  the  country,  eminent  in  the  profession,  and  discussed  by 
members  of  the  society. 


278  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

There  were  thirteen  charter  members,  to  wit:  M.  W.  Seaman,  A.  B.  Penni- 
man,  Ferd  Brother,  R.  S.  Cowan,  J.  R.  Lane,  R.  M.  Wilson,  A.  C.  Corr,  W.  C. 
Day,  R.  J.  Mitchell,  C.  H.  Black,  J.  W.  Trabue,  C.  E.  Smith,  J.  P.  Matthews. 
This  number  grew  to  forty-seven  within  a  short  time  and  below  is  given  the 
present  membership,  as  it  appears  by  the  records  of  the  secretary,  J.  P. 
Matthews. 

Carlinville—].  P.  Denby,  J.  H.  Davis,  C.  J.  C.  Fischer,  J.  S.  Collins,  J.  P. 
Matthews,  J.  Palmer  Matthews,  L.  H.  Corr,  E.  S.  Head,  Robert  Bell,  F.  M. 
Wood. 

Gillespie—C.  D.  King,  E.  B.  Hobson,  William  Gross,  Thomas  H.  Hall,  J.  N. 
English. 

Virden — E.  K.  Lockwood,  M.  H.  Farmer,  T.  W.  Morgan,  E.  R.  Motley, 
E.  G.  Motley. 

Girard — R.  S.  Cowan,  G.  E.  Hill,  W.  W.  Van  Wormier,  A.  H.  Simmons, 
J.  H.  Riffey,  R.  J.  Mitchell. 

Staunton — D.  L.  Bley,  A.  H.  Hunter,  U.  G.  Auer,  J.  S.  Patterson. 

Mount  Olive — G.  A.  Floreth,  C.  S.  Ambrose,  O.  F.  Allen,  Maximillian  Leon. 

Bunker  Hill—S.  D.  Rockefeller,  H.  C.  Kibbie,  Robert  E.  Bley,  E.  S.  Milton. 

Nilwood — D.  A.  Morgan. 

Brighton — J.  R.  Ash,  T.  A.  Horine. 

Scottville—W.  B.  Dalton,  Dr.  Doan. 

Plainview — M.  J.  Donahue. 

Palmyra — Ben  Hudson,  Martin  McMahan. 

Atwater — W.  A.  Trout. 

Chesterfield— W.  A.  Knoop. 

Shipman—].  P.  Hale,  R.  R.  Bobzin,  J.  L.  Kerrell,  J.  B.  Listen. 

Greenfield— A..  G.  Kinkead,  H.  W.  Gobble. 

Benld—H.  A.  Pattison,  F.  A.  Renner,  H.  B.  Beeson. 

Dorchester — F.  B.  Bushni. 

Medora—J.  E.  Walton,  O.  P.  Irwin. 

Modesto — J.  A.  Kennedy. 

The  present  officers  are:  President,  C.  D.  King,  Gillespie;  vice  president, 
T.  W.  Morgan,  Virden;  secretary-treasurer,  John  Palmer  Matthews,  Carlinville. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
BENCH  AND  BAR. 

SOME    MENTION    OF    THE    PIONEER    LAWYER THOSE    WHO    SHED    LUSTER    ON    THE 

LEGAL  PROFESSION  AND  MADE  A  STIR   IN  THE   WORLD — GENERAL  JOHN    M.  PAL- 
MER  GENERAL  JOHN  I.  RINAKER  AND  OTHERS PRESENT  MEMBERS  OF  THE  MA- 

COUPIN  BAR. 

Perhaps  no  body  of  men,  not  excepting  the  clergy,  may  exercise  a  greater 
influence  for  good  in  a  community  than  those  who  follow  the  profession  of  the 
law,  and  it  must  be  admitted  that  to  no  other  body,  not  even  to  the  so-called 
criminal  classes,  are  committed  greater  possibilities  for  an  influence  for  evil. 
What  that  influence  shall  be  depends  upon  the  character  of  the  men  who  con- 
stitute the  bar  of  the  community — not  merely  on  their  ability  or  learning  but 
on  their  character.  If  the  standard  of  morality  among  the  members  of  the 
bar  is  high,  the  whole  community  learns  to  look  at  questions  of  right  and  wrong 
from  a  higher  plane.  If  the  bar  consciously  or  unconsciously  adopts  a  low 
standard  of  morality,  it  almost  inevitably  contaminates  the  conscience  of  the 
community.  And  this  is  true  not  only  in  the  practice  of  the  profession  itself, 
not  only  because  of  the  influence  of  members  of  the  bar  as  men  rather  than 
lawyers,  but  in  the  effect  upon  other  professions  and  occupations  to  which  the 
bar  acts  as  a  feeder.  The  members  of  the  legislature  are  recruited  largely  from 
the  legal  profession.  How  can  legislation,  designed  solely  for  the  welfare  of 
the  public,  be  expected  from  one  whose  honor  as  a  lawyer  has  not  been  above 
suspicion?  And  since  lawyers,  outside  of  the  legislature,  have  a  great  influence 
in  shaping  the  law,  how  can  the  people  expect  that  influence  to  be  exerted  in 
their  behalf  when  the  bar  itself  is  unworthy?  Still  more  does  the  character  of 
the  bar  affect  the  judiciary,  which  is  supplied  from  its  ranks.  It  is  not  always, 
perhaps  not  generally,  the  case  that  members  of  the  bench  are  chosen  from 
those  lawyers  who  have  attained  the  highest  rank  in  their  profession.  If  a  judge 
be  industrious  and  honest,  but  not  of  great  ability,  or  if  he  be  able  and  honest, 
though  lacking  industry,  the  rights  of  the  litigants  are  not  likely  to  suffer  seri- 
ously at  his  hands.  But  there  have  been  instances  where  judicial  office  was  be- 
stowed solely  as  a  reward  for  political  service ;  and  while  it  is  sometimes  realized 
that  one  who  has  been  a  strenuous  and  not  too  scrupulous  politician  up  to  the 
moment  of  his  elevation  to  the  bench,  has  thereafter  forgotten  that  there  was 
such  a  trade  as  politics  and  has  administered  justice  without  fear  or  favor,  the 
experiment  is  a  dangerous  one.  No  one  need  be  surprised  if  in  such  a  case  the 

279       - 


280  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

old  maxim  holds  true :  "He  who  buys  the  office  of  judge  must  of  necessity  sell 
justice."  Let  our  judges  be  men  who  are  subject  to  other  influences  than  those 
of  the  facts  submitted  to  them  and  the  law  applicable  to  those  facts,  let  them 
lack  that  independence  which  is  an  imperative  requisite  toi  one  who  holds  the 
scale  of  justice,  let  a  well  founded  suspicion  arise  that  their  decisions  are  dic- 
tated by  something  outside  of  their  own  minds  and  consciences,  and  the  con- 
fidence of  the  people  in  the  maintenance  of  their  rights  through  the  agency  of 
the  courts  is  destroyed. 

It  has  been  the  good  fortune  of  the  city  of  Carlinville  and  the  county  of 
Macoupin  that  the  members  of  the  bar  here  have  been,  for  the  most  part,  men 
of  high  character  as  well  as  of  ability  and  learning,  so  that  its  bar  has  won  a 
high  and  honorable  reputation  throughout  the  rest  of  the  state  and  because  of 
the  high  character  of  the  bar  it  has  followed  that  those  of  its  members  who 
have  been  elevated  to  the  bench  have  enjoyed  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the 
public  and  have  been  honored  not  only  in  their  own  locality  but  in  many  cases 
throughout  the  state  and  in  other  states. 

Yet  the  preparation  of  a  history  of  the  bar,  so  far  at  least  as  that  part  of  it 
which  lies  back  of  one's  own  generation  is  concerned,  is  attended  with  consid- 
erable difficulty.  Probably  few  men  who  in  their  time  play  important  parts  in 
the  community  or  even  in  the  state  or  nation,  leave  so  transient  a  reputation  as 
lawyers  do.  A  writer  on  this  subject  who  took  for  his  text  the  Lawyers  of 
Fifty  Years  Ago,  said:  "In  thinking  over  the  names  of  these  distinguished 
men  of  whom  I  have  been  speaking,  the  thought  has  come  to  me  how  evanescent 
and  limited  is  the  lawyer's  reputation,  both  in  time  and  space.  I  doubt  very 
much  if  a  lawyer,  whatever  his  standing,  is  much  known  to  the  profession  out- 
side of  his  own  state."  Those  who  attain  high  rank  in  the  profession  must 
realize  that  with  rare  exceptions  their  names  are  "writ  in  water."  One  may  turn 
over  the  leaves  of  old  reports  and  find  repeated  again  and  again  as  counsel  in 
different  cases  the  name  of  some  lawyer  who  must  have  been  in  his  time  a  power 
in  the  courts,  only  to  wonder  if  he  has  ever  seen  that  name  outside  of  the  covers 
of  the  dusty  reports  in  which  it  appears.  Hamilton,  in  the  conventions,  in  the 
Federalist  and  in  the  treasury,  and  Webster,  in  the  senate  and  in  public  ora- 
tions, have  perpetuated  and  increased  the  fame  of  lawyers  Hamilton  and  Web- 
ster; but  were  it  not  for  their  services  outside  the  strict  limits  of  their  profes- 
sion one  might  come  upon  their  names  at  this  date  with  much  the  same  lack 
of  recognition  as  that  with  which  one  finds  in  a  reported  case  the  names  of  some 
counsel,  great  perhaps  in  his  own  time,  but  long  since  forgotten. 

And  there  is  another  difficulty  in  preparing  such  a  history  as  this,  brief  and 
therefore  necessarily  limited  to  a  few  names,  and  that  is  that  some  may  be 
omitted  who  are  quite  as  worthy  of  mention  as  those  whose  names  appear.  It 
is  not  often  that  any  one  man  stands  as  a  lawyer  head  and  shoulders  above 
the  other  members  of  the  profession;  and  the  same  may  be  said  of  any  half 
dozen  men.  In  many  cases  the  most  careful  measurement  would  fail  to  dis- 
close a  difference  of  more  than  a  fraction  of  an  inch,  if  any.  Lives  of  eminent 
men  who  have  at  some  period  been  practicing  lawyers  have  contained  the  as- 
sertion that  while  they  were  engaged  in  the  practice  of  their  profession  they 
were  the  "leaders  of  the  bar;"  but  there  is  almost  always  room  for  doubt  as 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  281 

to  whether  the  title  is  now  a  brevet  bestowed  by  the  biographer  alone.  There- 
fore the  mention  in  this  article  of  certain  lawyers  must  not  be  taken  as  any  dis- 
paragement of  those  who  are  not  mentioned,  and,  finally,  it  is  to  be  observed 
that  this  article,  so  far  as  the  bar  is  concerned,  will  treat  not  only  of  those  mem- 
bers who  are  past  and  gone  but  will  make  mention  of  some  of  those  now  in 
the  flesh. 

General  John  M.  Palmer  was  one  of  the  early  members  of  the  Macoupin 
county  bar  and  about  a  year  before  his  death,  or  in  1899,  wrote  a  history  of  the 
bench  and  bar  of  Illinois,  in  which  he  devoted  considerable  space  to  members 
of  the  bar  of  his  day  and  generation  and  those  who  came  before  him,  who  prac- 
ticed in  the  courts  of  this  county.  He  wrote  understandingly  and  entertainingly. 
He,  himself,  became  famous  in  his  profession  and  in  other  walks  'of  public  life 
and  anything  coming  from  his  pen,  relating  to  the  men  who  followed  the  profes- 
sion of  the  law  at  this  bar,  is  deemed  of  more  than  ordinary  importance  and 
worthy  of  preservation.  Hence,  his  remembrances  upon  the  subject  are  tran- 
scribed to  these  pages  and  appear  below : 

WHO  WAS  THE  FIRST  LAWYER? 

"Macoupin  county  was  organized  under  an  act  of  the  legislature  approved 
January  17,  1829.  Thomas  Carlin  was  then  a  state  senator  from  Greene  county, 
and  was  active  in  procuring  the  passage  of  the  act,  and  the  county  seat  of  the* 
new  county  was  named  in  his  honor,  Carlinville. 

"Senator  Carlin  afterward  became  governor  of  the  state,  elected  in  1838. 
It  is  not  certain  whether  Palemon  H.  Winchester  or  John  S.  Greathouse  was 
the  first  lawyer  to  settle  in  Carlinville;  they  were  both  residents  here  in  1831. 
Judge  Scott,  in  his  volume  'Supreme  Court  of  Illinois,  1818,'  refers  to  him  as 
'Winchester,  named  as  counsel  for  appellee  in  same  case  (Coleen  and  Claypole 
versus  Figgins),  was  evidently  P.  H.  Winchester,  a  teritorial  lawyer.' 

"Palemon  H.  Winchester,  who  was  referred  to  by  Judge  Scott,  was  a  native 
of  Tennessee  and  was  reputed  to  have  been  a  nephew  of  General  James  Win- 
chester, who  commanded  the  American  forces  at  Frenchtown,  or  Raisin  river, 
and  surrendered  them  to  the  British  commander,  Procter.  Major  Winchester, 
as  he  was  called,  came  to  Illinois  in  1817,  and  settled  in  Edwardsville,  where 
later  he  married  a  daughter  of  Colonel  Benjamin  Stevenson,  who  was  then  one 
of  the  leading  citizens  of  Madison  county.  Colonel  Stevenson  was  so  intimate 
with  Governor  Edwards  that  the  late  Judge  Benjamin  Stevenson  Edwards  was 
named  for  him. 

"In  1822  Winchester  was  indicted  for  the  murder  of  one  Smith,  and  Felix 
Grundy  defended  him.  Judge  Scott  speaks  of  him  as  'Solomon'  H.  Winchester, 
and  says,  'The  trial  created  a  good  deal  of  local  excitement ;  defendant  be- 
longed to  a  highly  respectable  family  and  had  many  influential  friends.'  Win- 
chester was  acquitted  and  after  Macoupin  county  was  established,  he  removed 
to  Carlinville,  where  he  died.  He  was  regarded  by  the  people  of  the  county 
as  a  good  lawyer  but  later  he  became  intemperate  and  unreasonable.  He  died 
many  years  ago. 


282  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

"John  S.  Greathouse  also  came  to  Carlinville  before  1831.  He  was  born 
in  Shelby  county,  Kentucky.  It  has  been  impossible  to  obtain  the  date  of  his 
birth.  He  lived  and  practiced  law  a  short  time  in  Anderson  county,  Kentucky, 
at  Lawrenceburg,  and  then  removed  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Carlinville,  or 
near  the  town,  upon  a  tract  of  land  of  sixty  acres.  He  built  a  good  house  and 
kept  an  office  in  town.  Mr.  Palmer  entered  the  law  office  of  Mr.  Greathouse 
in  March,  1839,  and  found  what  was  then  regarded  as  an  excellent  law  library — 
Breese's  Reports,  published  in  1831.  He  also  found  Coke  on  Littleton,  with 
Hargrave  and  Butler's  Notes,  Blackstone's  Commentaries,  Coke  and  Raymond's 
Reports,  Chitty's  Pleadings — then  a  new  work — Starkie  and  McNally  on  Evi- 
dence, Buller's  Nisi  Prius,  and  the  lawyer's  Vade  Mecum. 

"When  the  writer  came  to  Carlinville  on  the  26th  of  March,  1839,  he  found 
here  Palemon  H.  Winchester  and  John  S.  Greathouse,  of  whom  mention  has 
been  made,  John  A.  Chestnut,  John  W.  Bainbridge  and  John  Wilson,  practicing 
lawyers.  Mr.  Wilson  had  been  clerk  of  what  was  then  called  the  county 
commissioners'  court.  He  was  removed  from  office  for  what  I  always  regarded 
as  insufficient  reasons,  and  Mr.  Chesnut  was  appointed  in  his  place.  He  re- 
mained in  Carlinville  for  a  short  time  afterward,  and  then  removed  to  Carroll 
county,  where  he  died  many  years  ago. 

"John  W.  Bainbridge  had  emigrated  to  Illinois  from  Lincoln  county,  Ken- 
tucky. He  was  master  in  chancery  for  some  time  and  was  a  whig  in  politics, 
having  been  appointed  master  by  Judge  William  Thomas.  He  died  in  Cali- 
fornia. 

"Samuel  S.  Gilbert  was  born  in  Salem,  Massachusetts.  His  father  first 
settled  in  Pike  county,  in  or  near  Griggsville.  Mr.  Gilbert  studied  law  with 
John  A.  Chesnut,  and  after  his  admission  to  the  bar  formed  a  partnership  with 
his  preceptor,  under  the  firm  name  of  Chesnut  &  Gilbert.  The  partnership 
was  dissolved  by  the  removal  of  Mr.  Chesnut  to  Springfield.  Mr.  Gilbert  re- 
mained in  Carlinville  and  was  afterward  elected  county  judge.  He  died  many 
years  ago.  He  married  a  Miss  McClure,  who  died  prior  to  his  death.  He 
left  several  sons,  among  whom  was  Edward  Gilbert,  a  practicing  lawyer  of 
York,  Nebraska. 

"John  S.  Lauderdale  remained  in  Macoupin  county  only  a  short  time.  He 
came  from  Tennesee,  went  south,  and  became  a  captain  in  the  Confederate 
service. 

"Horace  Gwin  came  to  Carlinville  from  Tennessee  in  1859.  The  first  time 
the  writer  ever  saw  Mr.  Gwin,  although  he  had  heard  of  him  as  a  young  lawyer 
from  Tennessee,  he  had  occasion  to  go  to  the  court  house  in  the  evening, 
court  being  in  session,  and  there  listened  to  the  most  abusive  and  vindictive 
attack  upon  himself  personally  that  he  had  ever  heard.  Mr.  Gwin  was  the 
speaker  and  after  he  was  through  with  his  speech  the  writer  took  the  stand, 
and  while  he  declared  that  he  did  not  know  Mr.  Gwin,  but  hoped  to  know  him 
better  and  that  he  would,  when  he  knew  him  better,  think  better  of  him,  and 
said  no  more.  He  did  get  to  know  Mr.  Gwin  better  and  they  became  warm 
friends.  Mr.  Gwin  was  state's  attorney  under  the  constitution  of  1848,  and 
was  the  author  of  that  fine  definition  of  a  qui  tarn  action,  'one  half  to  the 
county  and  one  half  to  the  lawyer,  and  nothing  to  the  plaintiff.'  Mr.  Gwin 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  283 

married  Miss  Laura  Berry  and  died  several  years  ago,  leaving  a  number  of 
children." 

Isaac  Hendershot  was  another  early  lawyer  of  Carlinville.  He  had  lived 
in  Staunton  before  coming  to  this  place.  In  1836  he  was  a  candidate  for  the 
legislature.  He  went  to  Iowa  from  Carlinville. 

Samuel  Pitman  began  the  practice  of  law  in  Carlinville  in  1854.  During 
the  succeeding  ten  years  he  was  associated  in  business  as  a  partner  of  John  M. 
Palmer.  From  1865  until  1870  he  was  not  engaged  in  practice  but  in  1872 
formed  a  partnership  with  John  Mayo  Palmer,  thus  continuing  for  many  years. 
He  is  now  deceased. 

Asa  Potter  was  born  in  New  York,  in  1829.  His  education  was  obtained  at 
Aurora  Academy  and  at  Springfield  Academy,  both  in  Erie  county,  New  York. 
In  1857  he  came  to  Brighton,  Macoupin  county,  and  took  charge  of  the  school 
as  principal.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1862  and  practiced  at  Brighton 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  is  now  deceased. 

Balfour  Cowan  began  the  practice  of  law  at  Virden,  in  the  spring  of  1867. 
He  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire  and  moved  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in 
1835.  In  1858  he  became  a  citizen  of  Virden,  where  he  embarked  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  with  a  brother.  In  1867  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  gained 
a  leading  position  among  the  members  of  the  fraternity  in  Macoupin  county. 
He  is  now  deceased. 

Mahlon  Ross  was  born  in  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1821,  and  attended 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  place.  Leaving  school,  he  taught  for  a  while, 
in  the  meantime  reading  law.  He  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1850.  In  1854 
he  came  to  Virden,  where  he  rose  to  prominence  in  his  profession.  He  is  now 
deceased. 

William  Weer  was  one  of  the  early  lawyers  of  Carlinville.  He  was  educated 
in  McKendree  College  at  Lebanon,  Illinois.  At  one  time  he  ably  filled  the  office 
of  prosecuting  attorney  and  also  filled  the  office  of  county  judge.  After  leav- 
ing Carlinville  he  practiced  his  profession  in  St.  Louis.  He  has  been  dead  many 
years. 

Thomas  Jayne,  after  serving  as  probate  justice  for  some  years,  read  law 
and  practiced  his  profession  in  Carlinville.  He  was  a  good  lawyer  but  he 
began  too  late  in  life  to  attain  to  an  eminent  position  among  the  members  of 
the  bar.  He  is  now  deceased. 

In  1843  Edward  L.  Rice  became  a  student  of  law  and  after  being  admitted 
to  the  bar  practiced  his  profession  in  Carlinville. 

George  W.  Hamilton  practiced  law  in  Carlinville  from  1860  until  the  time 
of  his  death,  in  1876. 

George  Hunter  opened  a  law  office  in  Carlinville  in  1861.  He  died  in  the 
fall  of  1878,  mourned  by  a  host  of  friends. 

In  1866  John  N.  McMillan  opened  a  law  office  in  Carlinville  and  built  up  a 
large  and  lucrative  practice.  He  died  in  the  winter  of  1874-5. 

R.  C.  Smalley  became  a  member  of  the  Macoupin  county  bar  in  1867,  and 
continued  his  profession  here  until  the  time  of  his  death  in  1876. 

Judge  J.  R.  Welch  was  born  in  Jessamine  county,  Kentucky,  January  22, 
1828.  He  received  a  good  education  in  the  common  schools  and  academy  of 


284  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

the  state,  and  in  1845  matriculated  at  Transylvania  University  at  Lexington, 
graduating  therefrom  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  In  1849  he  entered  the  law 
department  of  the  same  university  and  graduated  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor 
of  Laws  and  immediately  thereafter  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  Nicholasville,  Kentucky,  where  he  remained  until  1864.  In  that  year  he 
came  to  Carlinville  and  soon  secured  a  large  clientele.  While  in  Kentucky 
he  was  elected  state's  attorney  and  served  in  that  capacity  four  years.  In 
1877  ne  was  elected  judge  of  the  fifth  judicial  district  and  succeeded  himself 
in  1879.  Judge  Welch  had  an  astute  legal  mind,  was  a  clear,  forceful  and  con- 
vincing speaker,  incisive  in  style  and  always  logical.  In  politics  he  was  a  dem- 
ocrat. On  the  6th  of  April,  1854,  Judge  Welch  married  Miss  Ann  Mary  Corn,  a 
native  of  Kentucky. 

John  Mayo  Palmer,  the  eldest  son  of  John  M.  Palmer,  was  born  in  Carlin- 
ville, March  10,  1848.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  was  one 
of  the  first  students  of  Blackburn  University.  In  1861  at  the  age  of  thirteen, 
he  went  with  his  father,  who  was  the  colonel  of  the  Fourteenth  Regiment,  to 
Jacksonville,  and  remained  with  him  during  the  whole  war.  In  1866-67  he 
attended  Shurtleff  College  at  Upper  Alton.  Returning  home,  he  studied  law 
with  his  father  and  a  portion  of  the  time  with  General  John  I.  Rinaker  and  was 
soon  after  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  then  entered  the  law  department  of  Har- 
vard University  and  graduated  therefrom  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.  Imme- 
diately after  his  graduation  at  Harvard  he  returned  to  Carlinville  and  took  up 
practice  of  law,  first  in  partnership  with  John  A.  Harris,  who  had  been  reared 
in  Carlinville.  Later  Mr.  Palmer  formed  a  partnership  with  Samuel  Pitman, 
who  had  been  a  former  partner  of  his  father.  In  1869  John  Mayo  Palmer 
married  Miss  Helen  Robertson,  daughter  of  Dr.  W.  A.  Robertson.  In  the 
spring  of  1870  he  was  elected  city  attorney  on  the  republican  ticket.  In  the 
spring  of  1872  he  removed  to  Springfield  to  take  up  the  practice  of  law  with 
his  father.  In  1875  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  city  council  at  Spring- 
field and  in  1876  was  returned  a  member  of  the  general  assembly  from  Macoupin 
county.  Mr.  Palmer  died  in  1903. 

F.  H.  Chapman,  who  was  born  in  Staunton  township  in  1828,  was  a  son  of 
Richard  Chapman,  who  came  to  the  county  in  1819.  In  1858  the  son  became 
county  surveyor  and  later  read  law.  He  had  a  splendid  military  record  and 
came  out  of  the  Civil  war  after  four  years'  service  with  the  brevet  of  major, 
which  he  received  for  meritorious  service.  From  1869  until  1873  Major 
Chapman  filled  the  office  of  county  superintendent  of  schools.  Previously, 
in  1869,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  in  1873  opened  a  law  office  in  Carlin- 
ville. In  1878  he  formed  a  partnership  with  General  John  M.  Palmer,  who  in 
1896  became  governor  of  the  state,  United  States  senator  and  candidate  for  the 
presidency  on  the  gold  standard  democratic  ticket.  As  a  lawyer  F.  H.  Chapman 
won  honors  at  the  local  bar.  He  was  a  clear,  logical  thinker,  good  pleader  and 
faithful  to  his  clients.  Up  to  the  war  Major  Chapman  was  a  democrat.  He 
then  joined  the  ranks  of  the  Lincoln  party  and  remained  true  to  its  tenets 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

Archelaus  N.  Yancey  was  born  March  24,  1844,  in  Montpeher,  Virginia. 
When  he  was  twelve  years  of  age  his  father  removed  from  Virginia  to  Oldham 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  285 

county,  Kentucky,  where  the  young  man  attended  an  academy  at  Middletown  in 
preparation  for  college.  He  entered  Dartmouth  College,  New  Hampshire,  in 
January,  1864,  but  previous  to  this  time  had  pursued  preparatory  studies  in  the 
law  office  of  Nathaniel  Wolf,  a  prominent  lawyer  'of  Louisville,  Kentucky.  He 
left  Dartmouth  College  in  1864  and  entered  the  University  of  Michigan,  grad- 
uating from  the  law  department  of  that  institution  in  the  spring  of  1867.  He 
then  took  up  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  in  Oldham  county,  Kentucky, 
and  that  same  fall  settled  at  Bunker  Hill.  Here  he  resided  many  years  and  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession  acquired  an  excellent  reputation  as  a  lawyer. 
He  was  a  man  of  sound  legal  learning,  successful  in  the  management  of  his 
cases.  For  several  years  he  was  attorney  for  the  Indianapolis  and  St.  Louis 
railway. 

Daniel  D.  Goodell  was  a  native  of  New  York  and  removed  with  his  widowed 
mother  to  Michigan,  where  he  began  the  study  of  law.  He  entered  the  practice 
of  his  profession  at  Brighton  in  1879,  where  he  soon  built  up  a  lucrative 
business. 

John  M.  Brown,  a  native  of  Glasgow,  Scotland,  came  to  Carlinville  in  an 
early  day.  He  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Palmer  &  Harris  and  con- 
tinued with  Palmer  &  Pitman.  He  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1870  and  for 
three  years  served  as  city  attorney  of  Carlinville.  He  is  now  deceased. 

A.  J.  Plowman  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Balfour  Cowan  and 
was  graduated  from  the  Union  College  of  Law  at  Chicago  in  1876.  He  located 
for  practice  in  Virden  and  for  three  years  served  as  city  attorney  of  that  place. 
He  is  now  deceased. 

A.  L.  Mayfield  began  the  study  of  law  in  Carlinville  under  the  direction  of 
William  R.  Welch  and  was  graduated  from  the  Transylvania  Law  School  of 
Kentucky,  being  admitted  to  practice  in  1877.  He  is  now  deceased. 

George  A.  Eastham  read  law  in  Carlinville  and  after  his  graduation  located 
for  practice  in  Girard.  He  is  now  deceased. 

LAWYERS    OF    NOTE    NOW    LIVING. 

Hon.  Charles  A.  Walker,  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  the  Illinois  bar,  in 
years  of  actual  practice,  is  a  citizen  of  Carlinville.  Fifty-two  years  ago  he 
passed  the  required  examinations  and  was  duly  admitted  to  the  bar,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  an  active  worker  in  the  profession.  While  the  Civil  war  was 
in  progress  he  was  elected  to  the  lower  house  of  the  Illinois  legislature  on  the 
democratic  ticket.  To  that  party  he  has  always  given  his  allegiance,  and  has 
been  recognized  as  an  influential  factor  in  local  state  campaigns.  When  he  was 
a  member  of  the  state  assembly  he  took  an  active  part  in  opposing  the  building 
of  the  new  court  house  in  this  county  and  was  prominently  connected  with 
many  important  measures  which  received  the  consideration  of  our  statesmen  of 
the  early  war  period. 

Mr.  Walker  is  a  native  of  Tennessee,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Nashville, 
August  21,  1826.  He  is  a  son  of  Abraham  S.  and  Rosina  (Phelps)  Walker,  who 
were  natives  of  Kentucky  and  North  Carolina,  respectively.  The  father  was  a 
man  of  prominence  in  his  community  and  was  respected  and  admired  by  all  who 


286  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

knew  him.  In  1844,  at  a  special  election,  he  ran  as  a  whig  candidate  against 
John  M.  Palmer,  democrat,  for  the  county  judgeship  of  Macoupin  county. 

At  the  age  of  two  years  Charles  A.  Walker  became  a  resident  of  Illinois  and 
in  this  state  he  received  his  education.  Having  finished  the  curriculum  of  the 
common  schools,  he  entered  Shurtleff  College  and  was  still  a  student  there  at 
the  time  that  the  gold  fever  of  1849  swept  the  country.  Like  thousands  of 
others,  he  decided  to  try  his  fortune  in  the  far  west,  and  before  the  summer  of 
1849  was  ushered  in,  he  was  starting  on  the  long  journey,  accompanied  by  Charles 
Palmer  (brother  of  John  M.)  and  John  F.  Kellar,  son  of  Samuel  Kellar,  an  old 
citizen  of  Macoupin  county.  Mr.  Walker  remained  on  the  Pacific  coast  about 
two  years  and  then  returned  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Carlinville.  In  1852  he 
wedded  Miss  Permelia  A.  Dick,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Susan  Dick,  re- 
spected citizens  of  Sangamon  county,  Illinois. 

In  1856  Mr.  Walker  took  up  the  study  of  law  under  Messrs.  Gilbert  &  Rin- 
aker,  of  Carlinville,  and  two  years  later,  having  been  admitted  to  the  bar,  he 
opened  an  office  and  began  a  lucrative  practice,  which  has  extended  to  the  present 
time.  In  1862  he  became  associated  in  partnership  with  John  N.  Woodson,  son 
of  Judge  D.  M.  Woodson,  of  Carrollton.  When  Mr.  Woodson  removed  to 
St.  Louis  six  years  later,  their  business  connection  was  dissolved  by  mutual 
consent.  Early  in  his  professional  life  Mr.  Walker  gained  an  enviable  position 
as  a  trial  lawyer  and  in  the  esteem  of  his  legal  brethren  and  by  strict  application 
and  energy  became  thoroughly  posted  in  the  intricacies  of  the  law.  For  years 
his  practice  has  been  extensive  and  remunerative  and  his  standing  as  a  lawyer 
is  above  question. 

In  1871  Mr.  Walker  was  honored  by  his  fellow  citizens  in  being  elected  to 
the  mayoralty  of  Carlinville.  Seven  years  later  he  was  elcted  to  the  state  senate. 
During  his  senatorial  career  he  succeeded  in  introducing  and  getting  passed 
the  first  compulsory  educational  bill  enacted  in  this  state.  From  his  early  man- 
hood he  has  taken  a  great  interest  in  the  cause  of  education  and  for  a  number  of 
years  served  as  president  of  the  Carlinville  school  board. 

For  some  time  Mr.  Walker's  business  associate  was  James  B.  Searcy,  the 
firm  name  being  Walker  &  Searcy.  Today  the  junior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Walker  &  Woods  is  Charles  H.  Woods,  a  grandson.  (See  second  volume). 

General  John  I.  Rinaker  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  in  1830,  and  by 
the  death  of  his  parents  was  early  thrown  upon  his  own  resources.  In  1837 
he  became  a  resident  of  Illinois  and  lived  in  Sangamon  county  until  1840,  after 
which  he  worked  on  a  farm  in  Morgan  county  until  he  was  nineteen  years  of 
age,  attending  the  common  school  during  a  part  of  each  winter.  Earning  the 
money  for  his  tuition  and  board  by  farm  labor,  he  entered  Illinois  College  at 
Jacksonville  and  during  his  attendance  there  taught  school  at  intervals.  He 
became  a  student  of  McKendree  College,  at  Lebanon.  Illinois,  in  1850,  and 
graduated  from  that  institution  in  1851.  He  became  a  resident  of  Carlinville 
in  1852,  when  he  entered  the  law  office  of  John  M.  Palmer  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1854.  He  at  once  began  the  practice  of  his  profession,  in  which 
he  continued  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  Through  his  efforts  in  1862 
the  One  Hundred  and  Twentieth  Regiment  of  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  was 
organized  and  he  became  its  colonel.  The  regiment  was  mustered  into  the 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  287 

service  September  4,  1862,  and  reported  for  duty  at  Columbus,  Kentucky,  when 
it  was  ordered  to  Trenton,  Tennessee.  During  his  career  in  the  army,  which 
continued  until  hostilities  ceased  in  the  spring  of  1865,  he  made  for  himself 
an  honorable  record.  At  the  close  of  the  war  General  Rinaker  returned  to 
Carlinville  and  resumed  the  practice  of  law.  He  attained  prominence  at  the  bar 
and  during  the  years  of  his  activity  was  recognized  by  members  of  the  profes- 
sion as  a  good  lawyer,  a  man  of  ability  and  an  effective  speaker  both  before 
court  and  jury.  (See  second  volume.) 

Lewis  P.  Peebles  was  born  in  Chesterfield,  Macoupin  county,  July  13,  1836. 
His  father,  Jesse  Peebles,  was  a  native  of  Camden,  South  Carolina,  and  emi- 
grated to  Illinois  in  1834,  taking  up  his  residence  in  Chesterfield  township,  where 
he  remained  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1864.  Judge  Peebles  worked 
upon  a  farm  and  attended  country  schools,  receiving  such  an  education  as  the 
school  room  of  those  days  afforded.  He  remained  at  home  until  1861,  when 
he  spent  the  succeeding  winter  in  the  office  of  William  A.  Grimshaw,  at  Pitts- 
field,  Illinois,  reading  law  with  a  view  of  adopting  that  profession.  He  remained 
there  until  the  summer  of  1862,  when  he  raised  a  company  of  soldiers  in  Ches- 
terfield and  Brighton  townships  and  tendered  them  to  the  government.  After 
his  return  from  the  battlefields  in  1865  the  subject  of  this  sketch  entered  Judge 
Welch's  law  office  and  resumed  his  studies.  In  December,  1867,  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar.  In  1868  he  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff.  He  afterward  formed 
a  law  partnership  with  R.  C.  Smalley  and  continued  the  practice  until  1872. 
In  his  profession  Judge  Peebles  has  attained  distinction  at  the  local  bar  and  is 
today  still  in  the  harness,  being  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Peebles  & 
Peebles,  the  junior  member  being  Jesse,  a  son.  (See  second  volume.) 

W.  E.  P.  Anderson  is  a  son  of  Erasmus  S.  and  Mary  E.  Anderson,  who  were 
among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Macoupin  county.  His  parents  died  when  he  was 
fifteen  months  old  and  he  was  taken  in  charge  by  his  uncle,  C.  H.  C.  Anderson, 
who  reared  him.  After  obtaining  a  common-school  education  he  became  a 
student  at  Blackburn  University  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  entered  Wesleyan 
University  at  Bloomington.  After  two  years  spent  in  the  latter  college  he  entered 
the  law  office  of  John  Mayo  Palmer,  and  after  an  interval  read  law  in  the  office 
of  Judge  William  R.  Welch  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  fall  of  1871. 
In  the  summer  of  1872  he  opened  an  office  in  Carlinville,  where  he  has  practiced 
his  profession  with  success  and  distinction  to  the  present  time.  (See  second 
volume.) 

WHEN   THEY  CAME   OR  THEREABOUTS. 

Lawyers  who  were  here  at  the  organization  of  the  county :  John  S.  Great- 
house,  Palemon  H.  Winchester,  John  W.  Bainbridge,  Colonel  Ben  Stevenson. 

Those  who  came  during  the  '305 :  John  M.  Palmer,  Thomas  Jayne,  John 
A.  Chesnut,  Robert  Foster,  Edward  Y.  Rice,  C.  D.  Hodges,  David  A.  Smith, 
known  as  "Bully"  Smith. 

Those  who  came  during  the  '405 :  William  Weer,  Thad  L.  Loomis,  George 
H.  F.  Works,  George  W.  Hamilton. 

Those  who  came  in  the  '505 :  James  Lee,  Horace  Gwin,  John  A.  Lauderale, 
John  McMillan,  C.  M.  Morrison,  J.  B.  White,  John  S.  Wolf,  David  B.  Haider- 


288  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

man,  H.  W.  Kerr,  J.  G.  Custer,  George  Hunter,  John  I.  Rinaker,  Lewis  P. 
Peebles,  Balfour  Cowen,  Daniel  Goodell,  Mahlon  Ross,  S.  S.  Gilbert,  Samuel 
Pitman,  S.  Thompson  Corn,  Fletcher  H.  Chapman. 

Those  who  came  during  the  '6os :  W.  R.  Welch,  Archelaus  F.  Yancey, 
E.  W.  Hayes,  Asa  Potter,  M.  Duncan,  John  M.  Brown,  A.  J.  Plowman,  George 
A.  Eastham,  John  Moran,  F.  Zimmerman,  Tevis  Greathouse,  John  M.  Wood- 
son,  W.  L.  Mounts. 

Those  who  came  after  the  '6os :  John  Mayo  Palmer,  long  since  deceased ; 
William  H.  Steward,  Martin  Keplinger,  W.  E.  P.  Anderson,  Judge  Robert  B. 
Shirley. 

PRESENT    MEMBERS  OF   THE   BAR. 

There  are  now  practicing  at  the  Macoupin  county  bar:  Gen.  John  I.  Rin- 
aker, Thomas  Rinaker,  C.  A.  Walker,  A.  H.  Bell,  F.  W.  Burton,  James  B. 
Searcy,  John  Moran,  L.  P.  Peebles,  Jesse  Peebles,  Charles  H.  Woods,  Martin 
L.  Keplinger,  William  H.  Steward,  Edward  C.  Knotts,  John  M.  Anderson, 
William  E.  P.  Anderson,  A.  J.  Duggan,  Victor  H.  Hemphill,  James  B.  Vaughn, 
Robert  B.  Shirley,  circuit  judge;  J.  Stuart  Clarke,  Truman  A.  Snell,  county 
judge;  H.  H.  Willoughby,  L.  M.  Harlan,  Bruno  Arkabauer,  Alfred  A.  Isaacs, 
A.  C.  Cuthberton,  H.  R.  Budd,  E.  W.  Hayes,  S.  G.  Brown,  William  H.  Good- 
ell,  Frank  Crum,  J.  H.  Murphy,  Alva  Ross,  H.  H.  Cowen,  C.  C.  Terry,  Frank 
Wood,  Floyd  Barnett,  Scott  Etter. 


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UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF     JOHN     M.     PALMER.         LAWYER SOLDIER STATESMAN— GAVE 

PROMINENCE    TO    THE    LOCAL    BAR SERVED    HIS     COUNTRY     IN    THE     HOUR    OF 

PERIL BECAME    GOVERNOR    OF     ILLINOIS     AND    HONORED    THE     STATE     IN     THE 

NATIONAL  SENATEi CANDIDATE -FOR  PRESIDENT  ON  THE  GOLD  STANDARD  DEMO- 
CRATIC TICKET. 

In  the  following  personal  sketch  prepared  for  the  history  of  the  Bench  and 
Bar  of  Illinois,  my  original  intention  was  to  offer  to  the  readers  of  that  work 
only  such  facts  as  relate  to  my  professional  and  judicial  history,  but  I  have 
found  it  impossible  to  make  my  life  story  connected  without  brief  allusions  to 
circumstances  growing  out  of  my  political,  military  and  executive  employments. 
With  these  brief  prefatory  observations,  I  begin  the  sketch  of  my  life. 

I  was  born  in  Scott  county,  Kentucky,  on  the  I3th  day  of  September,  1817, 
and  was  removed  by  my  parents  to  Christian  county,  in  the  same  state,  in  1818. 
My  earliest  recollections  go  back  to  a  new  and  then  sparsely  settled  portion  of 
southern  Kentucky.  My  father,  Louis  D.  Palmer,  was  born  in  Northumber- 
land county,  Virginia,  on  the  3d  day  of  June,  1781,  and  was  the  third  son  of 
Isaac  and  Ann  (McAuley)  Palmer,  who  were  both  born  in  that  county,  the 
former  on  the  ist  day  of  November,  and  the  latter  in  April,  in  the  year  1747; 
they  died  in  Christian  county,  Kentucky,  within  a  few  months  of  each  other, 
the  oldest  persons  in  that  part  of  the  state. 

My  mother,  Ann  Hansford  Tutt,  was  born  in  Culpeper  county,  Virginia, 
where  her  father.  Louis  Tutt,  and  her  mother,  Isabella  Yancey,  were  born  about 
the  year  1750.  Their  ancestors  were  early  settlers  in  Virginia,  the  Tutts  from 
England  and  the  Yanceys  from  Wales. 

My  grandfather  Palmer,  in  his  quiet,  stubborn  way,  took  part  in  the  Revor 
lutionary  contest.  He  appears  upon  the  roll  of  Revolutionary  soldiers  as  a 
"minute-man,"  and  received  a  pension  for  his  services. 

The  settlers  of  southern  Kentucky  established  schools  that  met  the  demands 
for  instruction  in  the  essential  branches  of  education  as  they  were  then  under- 
stood, reading,  writing  and  arithmetic  as  far  as  the  "rule  of  three ;"  later,  Eng- 
lish grammar,  according  to  Lindley  Murray,  was  introduced,  but  grammar  was 
for  many  years  treated  as  one  of  the  optional  studies,  being  considered  rather 
ornamental  than  useful.  My  teachers,  Isaiah  Boone,  a  relative  or  a  descendant 
of  the  famous  Daniel  Boone,  and  Hezekiah  Woodward,  a  professional  teacher, 
were  competent  instructors,  and  used  the  rod,  of  good  sound  hazel  or  hickory, 

Vol.  1—19 

289 


290  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

with  great  energy.     I  received  my  share  of  instruction  and  punishment  and  do 
not  distinctly  recollect  when  I  could  not  read. 

The  time  of  our  residence  in  Christian  county,  from  1818  to  1831,  was  filled 
with  important  political  and  social  discussions  and  changes.  I  have  a  very  dis- 
tinct recollection  of  the  great  contest  between  what  were  known  as  the  "old 
and  the  new  court"  parties,  which  commenced  by  certain  rulings  of  the  court  of 
appeals,  supreme  court  of  the  state.  The  lands  in  Kentucky  were  generally 
held  under  titles  derived  from  the  state  of  Virginia,  of  which  Kentucky  had 
been  a  part,  and  the  negligence  of  the  land  officers  and  the  careless  manner  in 
which  surveys  had  been  made,  led  to  a  confusion  of  boundaries  in  Kentucky. 
The  courts  of  the  state  were  crowded  with  suits  which  involved  conflicting  sur- 
veys or  imperfect  transfers  and  other  questions  of  like  character,  to  the  ruin  of 
hundreds  who  had  bought  lands  in  good  faith  and  had  made  improvements  on 
them.  In  order  to  relieve  the  unfortunate  settlers  the  legislature  of  the  state 
passed  laws  for  the  protection  of  occupying  claimants,  which,  had  they  been 
enforced  by  the  courts,  would  have  made  the  recovery  of  lands  against  occu- 
pants practically  impossible ;  at  the  same  time  the  people  were  poor  and  in 
debt.  ' 

The  legislature,  in  its  efforts  to  relieve  them,  had  created  banks  and  at- 
tempted to  make  the  paper  issues  of  these  institutions  a  practical  tender  in  the 
payment  of  debts.  The  method  of  relief  was  by  what  were  known  as  replevin 
laws.  These  gave  to  the  debtor,  after  a  tender  of  payment  in  bank  paper,  the 
right  to  a  stay  of  execution  upon  judgments,  on  a  tender  of  bond  and  security. 
The  exact  details  of  the  methods  provided  by  the  statutes,  by  which  the  stay 
of  execution  was  intended  to  be  secured,  are  not  important,  for,  whatever  they 
were,  the  court  of  appeals  (which  consisted  of  John  Boyle,  chief  justice,  and 
William  Owsley  and  Benjamin  Mills,  associate  justices)  held  them  to  be  un- 
constitutional, and  upon  that  ground  refused  to  enforce  them.  In  1824  an  at- 
tempt was  made  by  the  legislature  to  remove  the  chief  justice  and  his  associates 
by  an  address  to  the  governor,  but  in  order  to  remove  them  the  concurrence  of 
two-thirds  of  each  branch  of  the  legislature  was  necessary. 

The  requisite  "two-thirds"  could  not  be  obtained  to  the  address,  so  the  ex- 
pedient was  adopted  of  repealing  the  law  creating  the  court,  and  in  that  way 
getting  rid  of  the  judges.  The  repealing  bill  also  provided  for  the  appointment 
of  other  judges  of  the  court ;  the  governor  approved  the  repealing  act,  and  ap- 
pointed other  judges,  who,  it  was  expected,  would  support  the  validity  of  the 
"relief  laws."  Chief  Justice  Boyle  and  his  associates,  Owsley  and  Mills,  refused 
to  recognize  the  validity  of  the  repealing  act  or  to  surrender  their  records  to 
the  "new"  court.  The  state  had  for  a  time  two  courts  of  appeals,  and  the  people 
were  divided  into  two  parties,  which,  with  great  heat,  supported  the  rival 
tribunals. 

My  father  was  a  "new"  court  man,  but  Mr.  Clay,  who  was  then  strong  in 
the  confidence  of  the  people  of  Kentucky,  and  most  of  the  other  conservative 
men  of  the  state  supported  the  "old"  court,  and  after  a  contest,  characterized 
by  great  excitement,  the  "new-court"  party  was  defeated.  A  majority  of  the 
legislature  was  elected  favorable  to  the  old  court;  this  legislature  repealed  the 
law  under  which  the  new  court  was  created.  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  the  new- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  291 

court  party  was  wrong,  but  the  names  of  Boyle,  Owsley  and  Mills,  sometimes 
sarcastically  called  the  "three  kings,"  were  for  a  long  time  odious  to  me. 

In  1831  my  father  and  family  left  Kentucky  for  Illinois,  leaving  me,  with  my 
venerable  grandparents,  to  -follow  them  in  October.  My  father  settled  on  Pad- 
dock's  prairie,  about  ten  miles  from  Alton,  and  an  equal  distance  from  Edwards- 
ville,  where  he  built  a  log  house,  which  he  occupied  in  the  spring  of  1832. 

I  cannot  forbear  quoting  from  my  own  memoirs,  "The  Recollections  of  an 
Earnest  Life,"  an  account  of  my  own  journey  from  our  residence  in  Kentucky 
to  Illinois : 

"After  passing  Hopkinsville,  the  seat  of  justice  of  Christian  county,  Kentucky, 
we  took  the  route  from  that  place  by  way  of  Princeton,  in  CaWwell  county, 
Kentucky,  to  Ford's  ferry,  on  the  Ohio  river,  and  thence,  after  crossing  the 
river,  proceeded  by  Equality,  Mount  Vernon  and  Carlyle  to  Edwardsville.  This 
road,  which  was  then,  as  far  as  Carlyle,  the  great  route  from  southern  Ken- 
tucky, middle  Tennessee  and  North  Carolina  to  central  Illinois  and  Missouri, 
was  crowded  with  'movers,'  who  were  making  their  way,  by  all  the  then  known 
methods  of  travel,  from  the  handsome  family  carriage  to  the  humblest  ox  cart. 
Many  families  traveled  on  foot,  with  a  pack  horse  to  carry  their  heavier  mov- 
ables, or  to  provide  for  the  transportation  of  the  smaller  children.  Such  modes 
of  travel  are  never  noticed  now  to  any  extent;  the  railroads  of  modern  life  make 
scenes  such  as  are  here  described  impossible. 

"After  passing  along  the  road  which  still  runs  some  three  miles  west  of  Mc- 
Leansboro,  in  Hamilton  county,  for  a  few  miles,  we  came  to  Moore's  prairie, 
the  first  we  had  ever  seen,  and  as  we  advanced  toward  Edwardsville  the  prai- 
ries grew  more  extensive.  The  prairies  then  were  scarcely  marked  by  improve- 
ments, except  very  near  the  timber  borders,  for  the  early  settlers  dared  not  go 
out  on  the  far-stretching  plains.  Many  persons  told  us  that  the  prairies  would 
never  be  settled,  and  for  years  I  believed  that  prairie  land  more  than  two  or 
three  miles  from  the  timber  was  practically  valueless. 

"But  the  prairie  in  its  natural  state,  was  indeed  'a  thing  of  beauty ;'  some- 
times we  would  travel  miles  without  seeing  a  habitation,  or  if  houses  could  be 
discerned  they  would  be  situated  at  points  of  timber  and  at  a  greater  or  less 
distance  from  the  roads ;  deer  would  be  seen  in  herds,  as  if  they  had  not  learned 
to  be  startled  by  human  presence.  Nothing  was  more  animating  than  the  scenes 
to  be  witnessed  as  we  journeyed  over  these  long  stretches. 

"Perhaps  the  imagination  had  much  to  do  in  finding  objects  of  interest  on 
the  prairies,  but  to  me  they  were  enchanting,  and  after  years  of  familiarity  with 
the  magnificent,  undulating  acres  of  the  great  prairies  of  Illinois  and  other  west- 
ern and  northwestern  states,  now  that  they  are  all  inhabited,  dotted  with  cities, 
towns,  villages  and  highly  cultivated  farms,  they  linger  in  my  memory  like  a 
grand,  restful  dream." 

The  period  to  which  I  refer  was  one  of  great  prosperity  in  Illinois;  lands 
were  entered,  purchased  from  the  United  States  at  $1.25  per  acre;  popula- 
tion poured  into  the  state  and  employment  was  abundant  on  every  hand.  I  re- 
member that  one  winter,  with  a  younger  brother,  we  cut  sawlogs  on  government 
land,  and  by  that  means  earned  forty-eight  dollars.  My  father  added  the  bal- 
ance needed,  two  dollars,  and  the  amount  of  expenses  at  the  land  office,  and  I 


292  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

entered  forty  acres  of  land  in  my  own  name,  which,  after  attaining  my  majority, 
I  conveyed  to  my  father.  The  next  spring  and  early  summer  I  drove  a  prairie 
team,  four  yoke  of  oxen  attached  to  a  twenty- four-inch  plow;  I  worked  at  home 
when  needed,  and  finally,  in  the  summer  of  1834,  my  father  "gave  me  my  time." 
This  expression  may  have  an  amusing  sound  to  the  boys  of  this  day,  who  will 
hardly  consent  to  give  their  fathers  their  time. 

One  evening,  while  my  father  and  self  and  younger  brothers  were  discus- 
sing the  subject  of  education  and  matters  of  that  kind,  my  father  said  to  me,  in 
•reply  to  some  expression  of  a  wish  to  obtain  a  good  education :  "Very  well,  sir, 
you  owe  me  four  years  of  service  yet ;  I  will  give  you  that ;  go  and  get  an  edu- 
cation." I  looked  at  him  with  an  expression  of  surprise,  no  doubt,  and  asked 
in  an  excited,  trembling  voice,  "When  may  I  go,  sir?"  He  seemed  amused, 
and  said,  "Tomorrow  morning,  if  you  like."  I  remember  that  I  left  the  room 
to  conceal  my  feelings.  After  recovering  my  composure  I  returned  to  the  room 
where  my  father  was  seated,  and  sat  for  some  time  in  silence,  when  he  said, 
with  sighs  of  emotion,  "I  have  no  money  to  expend  for  your  education,  but  a 
healthy  boy  as  you  are  needs  no  help ;  you  may  go  tomorrow  morning.  I  give 
you  your  time.  Do  not  disgrace  me.  May  God  bless  you." 

This  scene  still  lingers  in  my  memory.  I  had  looked  forward  to  the  independ- 
ence of  manhood  with  the  eagerness  of  hope ;  I  had  reveled  in  dreams  of  results 
to  be  accomplished ;  I  had  imagined  myself  a  successful  farmer,  or  lawyer  or 
a  soldier — successful  in  every  employment ;  I  meant  when  I  got  to  be  a  man  to  be 
"rich,  learned  and  happy."  My  brothers  were  to  be  happy  and  successful ;  and 
even  then  there  would  come  into  the  picture  a  girlish  face  that  was  to  figure 
in  the  successes  which  I  imagined  were  to  attend  my  entry  upon  the  sphere  of 
manhood. 

Here  was  an  offer  made  by  my  father  to  anticipate  the  day  of  my  emancipa- 
tion, to  "give  me  my  time."  I  accepted  his  offer,  and  as  he  had  said  it,  I  knew 
lie  would  not  mention  it  again.  That  evening  I  talked  to  Roy  and  Frank,  my 
brothers,  who  seemed  to  be  as  much  elated  with  the  prospect  before  me  as  I 
was.  Next  morning,  after  an  early  breakfast,  I  left  home  on  foot,  without 
money  or  additional  clothes.  Both  seemed  to  me  unnecessary,  for  was  I  not 
going  out  into  the  world  a  free  man,  where  clothes  and  money  were  abundant 
and  to  be  had  by  any  one  who  would  earn  them? 

The  boys  started  with  me,  and  they  called  the  dogs,  three  of  them,  our  con- 
stant companions ;  they  were  to  go  with  me  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  a  mile  prob- 
ably from  the  house.  We  had  crossed  the  creek  when  the  dogs  started  a  rabbit ; 
we  waited  for  the  dogs  and  then  moved  on. 

My  father  was  not  at  the  house  when  I  left,  but  he,  too,  had  followed  to  a 
bluff  we  had  passed,  and  from  that  point  watched  us.  I  did  not  then  know  why 
he  stood  watching,  but  I  know  now.  When  I  reached  the  top  of  the  hill,  there 
we  stood,  reluctant  to  separate.  After  a  while  Roy  said  he  knew  where  he 
could  start  a  rabbit  on  his  way  home.  He  called  the  dogs  and,  without  saying 
a  word  to  me,  ran  off  at  his  utmost  speed,  followed  by  Frank,  and  I  was  left 
alone  with  my  newly  acquired  fortune,  "my  time,"  with  all  of  its  hopes  and 
possibilities. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  293 

The  boys  ran  until  out  of  sight.  I  very  well  understood  the  reason  why  they 
ran,  and  would  have  been  glad  to  follow  and  overtake  them,  but  my  destina- 
tion was  Upper  Alton,  where  there  was  a  school  recently  established.  It  was 
understood  to  be  a  "manual  labor  school,"  and  it  was  my  purpose  to  enter  that 
institution  and  pay  my  expenses  by  labor.  I  reached  Upper  Alton  about  one 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  and  had  made  up  my  mind  before  arriving  there  that 
it  would  be  necessary  at  once  to  find  work.  I  had  no  doubt  but  that  I  oould 
do  so  without  difficulty..  I  needed  no  dinner;  my  dreams  were  more  than  food, 
but  as  I  passed  along  the  principal  street,  soon  after  entering  the  town,  I  saw 
a  man  named  Haney  plastering  a  new  frame  house  for  Dr.  George  Haskell  and 
turned  off  to  where  he  was  superintending  or  making  a  bed  of  mortar.  I  asked 
him  if  he  wished  to  hire  some  one  to  make  and  carry  mortar.  He  said  he  did. 
I  had  never  made  mortar  for  a  plasterer.  He  put  a  shovel  into  my  hand  and; 
told  me  how  to  manage  the  sand,  the  lime  and  other  ingredients,  watched  me 
work  a  while,  offered  me  seventy-five  cents  a  day,'  told  me  where  I  could  get 
board  at  $1.25  a  week,  went  with  me  to  the  boarding  house  and  agreed  to  be 
responsible  for  me.  I  worked  that  afternoon  and  continued  to  work  until  the 
job  was  done.  I  do  not  remember  the  exact  number  of  days  this  required,  but 
I  do  remember  that  when  I  was  paid  and  had  settled  my  board,  bought  a  shirt 
and  a  pair  of  socks,  I  had  all  of  five  dollars  left,  which  was,  I  thought,  clothes 
and  money  enough  for  anybody. 

I  then  entered  the  college,  and  for  a  while  paid  my  board  by  my  earnings 
on  Saturdays.  I  also,  with  my  elder  brother,  Elihu,  took  a  contract  to  remove 
the  trees  from  a  street  leading  from  Upper  Alton  to  Middletown.  The  trees 
were  large  white  oaks ;  we  grubbed  them  up  and  were  well  paid  for  doing  so. 

I  remained  at  school  in  a  desultory  way  until  the  spring  of  1835,  when  the 
country  was  filled  with  rumors  of  the  "Texas  revolution,"  as  it  was  called.  My 
failure  to  carry  out  my  intention  to  unite  with  the  volunteers,  organized  at  St. 
Louis  to  join  the  "Revolutionists,"  was  caused  by  an  incident  that  seems  now 
very  ludicrous,  but  was  at  the  time  a  crushing  blow.  I  had  volunteered,  and  my 
arrangements  were  made  to  join  a  few  friends  at  Alton,  take  the  steamboat, 
which  it  was  expected  would  take  us  to  St.  Louis,  where  another  boat  was  wait-- 
ing  to  start  for  New  Orleans  on  our  arrival. 

I  spent  the  night  before  the  morning  fixed  for  my  departure  at  my  uncles, 
two  miles  east  of  Upper  Alton.  I  took -leave  of  my  relatives  and  left  the  house 
filled  with  anticipations  of  the  battlefields  in  Texas,  and  started  on  foot,  with 
a  small  pack  of  clothing,  to  reach  the  boat  and  then  off  for  the  field  of  glory. 

I  had  gone  a  mile,  perhaps,  after  leaving  Upper  Alton  when  I  was  overtaken 
by  John  Maxcy,  whom  I  knew  to  be  a  constable  of  Upper  Alton.  He  spoke  to 
me  kindly,  inquired  where  I  was  going.  I  told  him  to  Lower  Alton  to  take  a 
boat  for  St.  Louis,  and  from  thence  to  Texas,  to  take  part  in  the  revolution. 
He  handed  me  a  paper,  and  said,  "Here  is  something  you  have  forgotten." 
To  my  astonishment  the  paper  read : 

"The  people  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  to  any  constable  of  said  county,  greet- 
ing: We  command  you  to  take  the  body  of  John  M.  Palmer,  if  he  be  found: 
in  your  county,  and  bring  him  forthwith  before  me,  to  answer  the  complaint  of, 
etc."  I  had  never  seen  such  a  paper  before ;  it  commanded  the  constable  to 


294  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

arrest  me,  and  to  take  me  before  the  justice  of  the  peace.  The  constable  told 
me  I  could  discharge  myself  by  paying  to  him  $4.50  and  about  $1.25  costs.  I 
assured  him  that  I  had  not  forgotten  the  debt,  but  had  arranged  with  my  cousin, 
Isaac  Palmer,  to  pay  it  for  me.  He  said  that  might  be  all  right  but  he  must 
have  the  money  or  I  must  go  back.  Unfortunately,  my  whole  stock  of  money 
did  not  exceed  two  dollars,  so  I  went  back,  humiliated  beyond  measure. 

I  arranged  the  matter  during  the  day  but  to  get  the  money  I  had  to  promise 
to  go  to  work ;  the  steamboat  lost  a  passenger  and  the  cause  of  Texas  an  enthu- 
siastic supporter.  I  then  went  to  work  again,  did  not  at  once  return  to  school 
but  paid  the  money  I  had  borrowed,  and  then,  in  the  May  following,  occurred 
one  of  those  incidents  which  so  much  resemble  fiction  that  I  cannot  forbear  re- 
lating it. 

Many  persons  now  living  remember  Enoch  Moore,  whose  remarkable  form 
so  often  attracted  attention.  In  1836  he  kept  a  tailor's  shop  in  Upper  Alton. 
One  day  I  stepped  into  his  shop  and  saw  hanging  up  a  suit  of  clothes.  The  coat 
and  pants  were  of  some  cotton  goods,  which  I  cannot  describe,  and  the  vest  was 
figured  like  calico. 

Mr.  Moore  saw  that  I  needed  clothes  and  that  I  looked  at  the  suit  with  in- 
terest. He  told  me  that  he  had  made  it  for  a  person  who  failed  to  take  it  and 
offered  it  to  me  for  $12.  I  had  no  money  and  told  him  so.  He  asked  my  name 
and  when  I  told  him,  said  he  knew  my  father  and  added  that  he  thought  I  could 
earn  the  money  and  pay  for  the  clothes.  I  finally,  with  great  hesitation,  agreed 
to  take  them,  and  for  the  first  time  contracted  a  debt  deliberately. 

I  have  told  the  story  of  my  arrest,  which,  I  supposed  was  applicable  to  all 
debts.  During  May  and  early  June  I  paid  most  of  the  amount  and  on  the 
evening  of  July  3d  I  went  to  my  father's  with  more  than  enough  to  pay  the  bal- 
ance due  Mr.  Moore.  My  father,  who  saw  the  amount  I  had,  and  which  the 
"boys"  were  counting  with  great  satisfaction,  said:  "Go  tomorrow  and  pay  Mr. 
Moore  and  then  you  will  be  a  free  man ;  now  you  are  a  servant." 

On  the  next  day  I  went,  accompanied  by  my  brother  Roy,  to  Upper  Alton  on 
foot,  paid  Mr.  Moore,  and  had  money  left;  went  on  to  Lower  Alton,  spent 
freely  (twenty-five  cents)  for  cake  and  beer  of  the  old  kind  and  reached  my 
father's  about  sundown,  a  proud  and  happy  boy. 

In  1869,  after  I  was  inaugurated  governor,  I  reminded  Mr.  Moore  of  the 
fact  that  he  had  sold  me  the  clothes  on  credit  and  reappointed  him  secretary  of 
^    the  governor,  ex-officio  fund   commissioner,  to  which   a   salary  of  $1,500   was 
attached. 

In  August,  1836,  I  was  living  in  the  south  part  of  Macoupin  county  and  at- 
tended house-raisings  and  other  amusements  of  like  character,  and  witnessed, 
and  had  opportunity  for  familiarizing  myself  with,  the  habits  of  the  people, 
which  were  to  me  always  interesting  and  amusing.  The  elections  were  then  held 
on  the  first  Monday  in  August,  and  although  not  a  voter,  I  attended  an  election 
held  at  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Wood,  south  of  where  Wooclburn  now  is. 

There  were  three  judges  and  two  clerks  of  the  election,  and  the  method  of 
voting  was  viva  voce.  One  of  the  qualifications  required  of  a  voter  was  resi- 
dence in  the  state  for  six  months  previous  to  an  election.  I  remember  that  a 
man  named  Hoskins,  whom  I  had  not  seen  before,  offered  to  vote,  and  when 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  295 

asked  how  long  he  had  lived  in  the  state  said  he  came  here  in  the  month  of 
April  previous;  the  senior  judge,  after  telling  him  he  had  not  been  in  the  state 
long  enough,  hesitated  a  moment,  then  asked  him  if  he  had  "had  the  chills?"  He 
answered,  "Yes,  I  had  one  yesterday,  and  feel  one  coming  on  me  now."  The 
judge  said,  "Put  him  down  and  let  him  go  home ;  the  chills  are  as  good  as  a  six 
months'  residence."  His  vote  was  recorded.  It  may  be  well  enough  to  say  by 
way  of  apology  for  the  judges,  that  there  was  a  large  bottle  of  whiskey  on  the 
table,  of  which  they  had  partaken  liberally. 

Accepting  the  rule  adopted  by  the  judges,  I  supposed,  for  several  years  after- 
wards, that  having  the  "chills"  was  equivalent  to  six  months'  residence  in  the 
state.  In  September  I  returned  to  Upper  Alton,  where  I  spent  most  of  the  win- 
ter in  school,  working,  in  payment  of  my  board,  in  the  family  of  Rev.  Ebenezer 
Rodgers,  a  Baptist  minister,  who  had  lately  come  into  the  state  from  Missouri. 
Mr.  Rodgers  was  an  Englishman  by  birth  and  the  father  of  my  friend,  Colonel 
Andrew  Fuller  Rodgers,  formerly  of  the  Eightieth  Illinois  Infantry. 

In  December,  1838,  I  took  a  school  for  three  months,  east  of  Canton,  Ful- 
ton county,  and  while  engaged  in  that  school  I  determined  to  study  law.  I  read 
Blackstone's  Commentaries  and  McNally  on  Evidence. 

My  school  ending  about  the  middle  of  March,  I  decided  to  visit  my  father, 
who  lived  in  Madison  county,  and  my  eldest  brother,  who  lived  at  Carlinville, 
Macoupin  county.  I  took  passage  on  a  steamboat  from  Utica  to  St.  Louis, 
crossed  the  river  on  a  ferry,  and  walked  to  Carlinville,  which  I  reached  on  the 
26th  of  March,  1839. 

I  then  entered  the  office  of  John  S.  Greathouse  as  a  student.  Mr.  Great- 
house  was  one  of  the  leading  lawyers  of  the  town  and  I  had  Coke  on  Littleton, 
with  Hargrave  and  Butler's  Notes  placed  in  my  hands  for  a  beginning.  I  had 
read  Blackstone's  Commentaries  much  as  every  law  student  reads  that  excellent 
and  learned  work  for  the  first  time. 

It  will  be  interesting  to  students  of  the  present  clay,  when  law  books  are  so 
multiplied  that  general  treatises  on  any  subject  are  to  be  found  in  the  book- 
stores, as  special  works  on  all  important  subdivisions  of  the  law  and  reports 
are  found  in  law  libraries  by  the  thousands,  to  know  that  the  Reports  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Illinois  at  that  time  were  contained  in  one  volume — Breese. 

My  preceptor,  Mr.  Greathouse,  who  was  a  well  read  lawyer,  had  in  his 
office  a  few  volumes  of  English  Reports,  Coke,  Raymond  and  Buller's  Nisi 
Prius,  Starkie  and  McNally  on  Evidence,  and  Chitty's  Pleadings,  then  a  com- 
paratively new  work.  I  have  a  few  of  these  old  books  left  still,  but  some  of  the 
most  ancient  and  rare  have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  "filchers"  of  rare  books 
who  have  always  looted  the  careless  collectors. 

It  may  be  useful  to  students  to  state  for  their  benefit  my  methods  of  study. 
I  read  carefully,  with  a  glossary  of  law  terms,  and  made  full  notes ;  I  did  not, 
in  my  notes,  as  a  rule,  merely  quote  the  language  of  the  authors,  but  my  effort 
was  to  grasp  the  subject  and  state  it  in  my  own  language.  My  conceptions  of 
the  meaning  of  what  I  read  were  often  inaccurate,  but  I  think,  on  the  whole, 
the  method  was  preferable  to  any  other.  It  promoted  brevity  and  terseness  and 
aided  in  systematizing  the  knowledge  acquired,  and  I  think  my  experience  justi- 
fies me  in  saying  that  knowledge  of  the  law,  acquired  by  the  method  I  refer  to, 


296  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

is  much  longer  retained  and  more  easily  and  intelligently  applied  to  practical 
use  than  it  can  be  when  the  student  merely  masters  the  words  of  his  author,  or 
instructor.  I  may  add  here — for  I  will  not  return  to  the  subject — that  it  is  es- 
sential to  a  successful  study  of  the  law  that  a  student  should  master  the  history 
of  the  people  with  whom  laws  originate.  Laws  are  but  expressions  of  the  feel- 
ings, habits  and  necessities  of  mankind  and  can  only  be  understood  by  a  thor- 
ough familiarity  with  their  history  and  with  their  applications  and  uses. 

I  was  aided  in  my  studies  by  the  great  promoter  of  diligence, — poverty;  I 
was  compelled  to  earn  something  and  as  there  were  some  sales  of  land  and  the 
volumes  of  the  record  were  few,  I  examined  titles  and  prepared  deeds,  and 
soon  found  some  employment  before  justices  of  the  peace.  It  was  not  long 
before  I  found  myself  able  to  meet  my  expenses,  which,  with  board  at  $i  or 
$1.25  per  week,  did  not  exceed  $100  a  year.  The  only  interruption  to  my  studies 
was  that  my  friends  insisted  that  I  should  become  candidate  for  county  clerk, 
and  I  know  that  the  leaders  of  my  party,  when  they  insisted  upon  my  candidacy, 
had  no  expectation  that  I  would  succeed.  After  the  election  I  pursued  my 
studies  with  great  industry  and  made  great  progress  in  the  acquisition  of  the 
mysteries  of  the  law,  so  that  in  December,  1839,  I  borrowed  five  dollars  from 
a  friend  to  pay  my  expenses,  and,  as  Mr.  Greathouse  was  going  to  Springfield 
in  his  own  carriage,  he  invited  me  to  ride  with  him,  which  I  did. 

I  met  Stephen  A.  Douglas  soon  after  reaching  the  city  and  told  him  my 
business  was  to  obtain  a  license  to  practice  law.  He,  with  that  cheerful  kind- 
ness which  always  characterized  him  and  made  him  so  popular — particularly 
with  young  men — made  my  application  for  admission,  had  himself  and  the  late 
J.  Young  Scammon  appointed  a  committee  to  examine  me  touching  my  qualifi- 
cations to  practice  law.  He  Invited  me  to  his  room  for  examination,  where  I 
met  Mr.  Scammon.  The  committee  treated  me  with  great  kindness,  and  made 
a  favorable  report.  Mr.  Douglas  drew  the  license,  made  the  motion  for  my  ad- 
mission, and  the  license  was  signed  by  two  justices  of  the  supreme  court,  Lock- 
wood  and  Browne.  I  took  the  prescribed  oath  and  signed  the  roll,  and  was  then 
a  lawyer,  lacking  nothing  but  learning,  experience  and  clients.  I  had  money 
.enough  to  pay  my  hotel  bills  before  leaving  Springfield,  and  I  "took  no  thought 
for  the  morrow." 

After  about  two  weeks  I  tried  a  case  before  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  Car- 
linville  and  got  two  dollars  and  half,  and,  as  I  had  no  wants,  I  paid  two  dollars 
of  this  to  my  poor  landlord,  Allison.  During  the  first  week  in  January  I  trav- 
eled about  twelve  miles  to  the  head  of  Cahokia  and  tried  a  suit,  for  which  I 
received  five  dollars,  and  after  paying  Allison  four  dollars  of  this,  and  fifty 
cents  for  my  horse,  saddle  and  bridle  for  the  trip,  I  recovered  my  courage  and 
in  February  started  on  foot  to  Edwardsville  to  attend  the  circuit  court  of  Madi- 
son county,  which  was  then  in  session,  Judge  Sidney  Breese,  afterward  so  dis- 
tinguished in  the  judicial  and  political  history  of  the  state,  presiding.  I  had 
known  Judge  Breese  when  I  was  a  boy,  and  the  first  law  speech  I  ever  heard 
was  made  by  him.  He  met,  and  remembered  me  kindly,  and  soon  after  assigned 
me  to  the  defense  of  a  poor  fellow  who  was  indicted  for  larceny.  I  have  often 
repeated  the  incidents  of  this  trial  and  the  conduct  of  Judge  Breese  toward  me, 
to  illustrate  the  wisdom  of  judges  who  treat  young  members  of  the  bar  with 


RESIDENCE   OF  ATTORNEY   KNOTT.  CARUNY1LLE 


RESIDEXC  K  OF  GEORliK  M'XEIL   IN   THE   FIFTIES 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  L>97 

kindness.  Any  lawyer  may  easily  guess  the  character  of  the  defense  1  made 
for  this,  my  first  client.  I  had  never  before  appeared  in  the  circuit  court; 
my  client  was  unquestionably  guilty,  and  the  jury  so  found  after  very  brief 
hesitation.  After  the  jury  had  found  him  guilty, -I  remembered  that  according 
to  "the  books,"  after  a  verdict  against  a  client  it  was  the  duty  of  a  lawyer  to 
make  a  motion  for  a  new  trial,  and  if  that  motion  failed,  to  then  move  in  arrest 
of  judgment.  Accordingly,  I  made  a  motion  for  a  new  trial  for  the  usual  for- 
mal reasons ;  I  know  I  attempted  to  argue  the  motion,  and  although  at  the  time 
I  was  so  embarrassed  by  the  surroundings  that  I  then  scarcely  understood  what 
I  said,  I  was  satisfied  soon  afterward  when  I  heard  the  judge  remark  that  I  had 
made  a  most  learned  and  forcible  argument.  When  I  concluded  my  speech,  what- 
ever it  was,  I  was  confused  enough  but  when  Attorney  General  Kitchell  finished 
his  caustic  and  almost  contemptuous  reply,  I  was  overwhelmed  with  confusion. 
The  judge,  however,  rescued  me;  he  noticed  in  succession  the  reasons  I  had 
assigned  in  writing  for  a  new  trial,  and  said  that  "the  learned  counsel  had  sup- 
ported these  reasons  with  great  force  of  argument."  He  stated  what  he  said 
were  the  arguments  I  had  used,  confessed  he  was  impressed  with  their  force, 
and  then  proceeded  to  answer  them  with  great  deliberation,  and  concluded  by 
saying  that  "the  defendant  had  been  ably  defended  by  learned  counsel  and  tried 
by  an  intelligent  and  impartial  jury,  and  that  he  therefore  felt  constrained  to 
overrule  the  motion  for  a  new  trial  and  render  a  judgment  on  the  verdict." 

I  did  not  make  a  motion  in  arrest  of  judgment  but  I  will  confess  that  for  a 
while  after  the  judge  concluded,  I  believed  I  had  really  used  the  arguments  that 
he  attributed  to  me  and  then  repeated  and  answered,  and  though  I  afterward 
realized  that  both  the  arguments  and  the  answers  to  them  were  the  work  of 
the  judge,  he  made  an  impression  upon  me  that  still  remains,  and  secured  for 
himself  my  best  personal  services  as  long  as  he  had  occasion  for  them ;  and  he 
left  upon  my  mind  an  impression  which  I  still  retain. 

At  the  May  term  of  the  Macoupin  circuit  court,  after  my  admission  to  the 
bar,  I  was  assigned  to  the  defense  of  Aaron  and  William  Todd,  in  conjunc- 
tion with  others.  William  Todd  was  acquitted  and  Aaron  Todd  was  convicted 
of  the  murder  of  Larkin  Scott,  their  cousin,  and  was  hanged  at  Carlinville.  By 
this  time  my  business  had  so  increased  that  it  afforded  me  a  comfortable  sup- 
port, according  to  the  simple  habits  of  the  times,  and  I  think  I  may  say  that, 
from  that  time  to  the  present  I  have  never  seen  a  day  when  I  was  without  em- 
ployment. I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  I  have  worked  every  day  but  if  idle,  it 
was  not  because  I  had  not  something  to  do. 

I  pass  over  the  election  of  1840,  in  which  I  took  an  interest  and  supported 
Mr.  Van  Buren.  After  the  election  of  1840  I  continued  the  practice  of  my  pro- 
fession with  great  industry,  and  during  this  time  won  a  fair  share  of  legal 
business  that  reached  the  court. 

On  the  first  Monday  in  August,  1843,  I  was  elected  to  the  office  of  probate 
justice  of  the  peace.  That  officer  had  jurisdiction  of  the  probate  business  and 
also  that  of  an  ordinary  justice  of  the  peace.  I  held  that  office  until  1847,  when 
I  was  elected  to  be  a  member  of  the  constitutional  convention  which  assembled 
in  Springfield  on  the  7th  day  of  June,  1847.  I  was  placed,  at  my  own  request, 
on  the  committee  of  education,  and  made  a  report  from  that  committee  which 


298  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

provided  that  "It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  general  assembly  to  provide  for  a 
system  of  common  schools  which  shall  be  as  nearly  uniform  as  may  be  through- 
out the  state,  and  such  common  schools  shall  be  equally  free  to  all  the  children 
in  the  state,  and  no  sectarian  instruction  shall  be  permitted  in  any  of  them." 
It  was  too  early  for  the  adoption  of  free  schools,  and  the  convention  paid  no 
further  attention  to  the  subject. 

On  the  first  Monday  in  August.  1847,  I  was  defeated  for  reelection  to  the 
office  of  probate  justice  of  the  peace.  In  May,  1848,  I  was  again  elected  to  that 
office,  my  successor  having  resigned,  and  at  the  election  in  the  November  fol- 
lowing I  was  elected  county  judge  of  Macoupin  county. 

In  1852,  at  a  special  election  held  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the 
death  of  Hon.  Franklin  Witt,  I  was  elected  state  senator  from  a  district  com- 
posed of  the  counties  of  Greene,  Jersey  and  Macoupin  without  opposition,  and 
was  reelected  a  member  of  the  state  senate  in  1854  from  the  same  district  as 
an  anti-Nebraska  democrat. 

In  1856  I  resigned  my  seat  in  the  state  senate,  and  afterwards  was  president 
of  the  first  republican  convention  which  assembled  in  Illinois.  After  that  time 
I  continued  the  practice  of  my  profession,  and  supposed  I  had  abandoned  poli- 
tics forever.  In  1859,  much  against  my  will,  I  became  a  candidate  for  the  seat 
in  the  lower  house  of  congress  and  was  defeated  by  General  John  A.  McCler- 
nand.  In  1860  I  was  one  of  the  electors  at  large,  pledged  to  vote  for  Mr. 
Lincoln. 

In  1861  I  was  a  member  of  the  peace  conference  which  assembled  in  Wash- 
ington on  the  4th  of  February  of  that  year,  and  took  part  in  its  deliberations, 
and  on  the  9th  of  May  of  the  same  year  I  was  elected  colonel  of  the  Fourteenth 
Regiment  of  Illinois  Infantry  at  Jacksonville  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  men 
composing  the  regiment.  On  the  25th  of  May,  1861,  I  was  mustered,  with  my 
regiment  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  for  three  years,  or  during  the 
war. 

When  I  left  home,  in  May,  1861,  I  told  my  clients  that  the  war  would  soon 
be  over  and  that  I  would  return  at  the  September  term  of  court  and  would 
attend  to  their  business;  but  I  was  mistaken,  for  my  resignation  as  major  gen- 
eral of  volunteers  was  accepted  on  the  ist  day  of  September,  1866. 

In  February,  1865,  I  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  department  of 
Kentucky  by  Mr.  Lincoln  himself,  where  many  legal  questions  of  a  most  em- 
barrassing character  arose  which  the  department  commander  was  compelled  to 
decide  promptly.  Kentucky  was  excepted  from  the  Proclamation  of  Emancipa- 
tion, and  it  was  never  known  whether  it  furnished  more  troops  to  the  Confed- 
eracy or  the  Union. 

My  first  report  was  made  to  the  adjutant  general  on  the  24th  of  February, 
1865.  On  the  22d  of  February,  1865,  Colonel  Robert  J.  Breckenridge,  of  the 
rebel  army,  was  arrested  inside  of  our  lines  as  a  spy. 

The  secretary  of  war  happily  relieved  me  of  any  responsibility  for  him  by 
ordering  him  to  be  taken  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  as  a  prisoner  of  war.  On  the  3d 
of  March,  1865,  congress  passed  a  joint  resolution  which  declared  the  families 
of  soldiers  to  be  free,  and  then  my  troubles  commenced.  It  is  perhaps  known 
that  the  marriages  of  slaves  were  not  recognized  by  any  of  the  laws  of  the  states 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIX  COUNTY  299 

in  which  slavery  existed;  this  made  the  enforcement  of  the  joint  resolution  de- 
claring the  families  of  soldiers  to  be  free,  particularly  difficult  in  Kentucky  and 
in  other  states  and  parts  of  states  not  embraced  in  the  Emancipation  Proclama- 
tion. 

Another  fact  tended  to  still  further  complicate  the  question :  When  I  took 
command  of  the  department  of  Kentucky  a  draft  was  impending;  I  do  not  re- 
member what  the  quota  of  the  city  of  Louisville  was,  but  the  masters  of  able 
bodied  slaves  were  selling  them  to  the  government  for  enlistment  as  soldiers, 
and  in  case  the  slave  exhibited  any  reluctance  to  enlistment  he  was  confined 
in  either  the  jail  or  the  slave  pens  that  were  conveniently  situated  for  that  pur- 
pose, so  that  I  was  compelled  to  appoint  an  officer  to  inquire  'into  the  case  of 
all  colored  persons  held  in  confinement  by  the  civil  or  military  authorities,  with 
directions  to  report  to  me  the  causes  for  their  detention.  I  ordered  the  dis- 
charge of  all  persons  confined  in  slave  pens  by  private  authority,  and  in  like 
manner  from  the  jails,  unless  held  for  some  criminal  charge.  It  will  be  remem- 
bered that  Kentucky  was  under  martial  law  at  that  time. 

There  was  at  that  time,  and  subsequently,  a  statute  of  the  state  which  pro- 
hibited slaves  to  go  at  large  and  hire  themselves  out  as  free  persons,  and  as  the 
fact  of  the  freedom  of  almost  all  colored  persons  was  disputed  it  was  sought  to 
enforce  the  laws  prohibiting  vagrancy  and  the  statute  before  adverted  to. 

Perhaps  I  can  condense  the  whole  matter  by  giving  extracts  from  my  com- 
munication to  the  mayor  and  a  committee  of  the  common  council  of  the  city 
of  Louisville,  dated  May  u,  1865:  "I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  re- 
ceipt of  your  communication  of  yesterday's  date  in  reference  to  the  presence 
and  condition  of  the  large  number  of  colored  people  in  the  city  of  Louisville,  in 
which  you  express  apprehension  of  pestilence  from  their  crowded  state  and  ask 
my  cooperation  in  ridding  the  city  of  the  evil.  .  .  .  Before  replying  to  the 
general  facts  and  views  you  express,  allow  me  to  correct  the  error  found  in 
your  statement,  that  'no  arrangement  was  or  has  been  made  by  the  military 
authorities  for  the  protection  and  support  of  colored  persons  coming  into  the 
city ;'  on  the  contrary,  the  wives  and  children  of  colored  soldiers  coming-  here, 
and  those  residing  in  the  city,  have  been  fed  by  the  government,  and  all  who 
could  be  induced  to  do  so  have  been  transported  to  Camp  Nelson  and  there 
provided  for,  at  the  national  expense,  and  the  military  authorities  are  still  will- 
ing to  provide  in  the  same  way  for  all  of  that  class.  But  there  are  difficulties 
in  the  problem  you  present  that  cannot  be  solved  by  the  enforcement  of  the 
laws  against  vagrancy,  or  by  restricting  the  rights  of  the  owners  of  slaves  to 
allow  them  the  small  measure  of  freedom  implied  in  permitting  them  to  hire 
their  own  time  and  go  at  large  as  free  persons. 

"These  people  and  their  ancestors,  for  generations,  are  and  have  been  natives 
of  the  state  of  Kentucky,  and  have  all  as  strong  local  attachments  as  other  na- 
tives of  the  state.  Recent  events,  which  need  not  be  particularized,  have  dis- 
turbed, if  not  changed,  their  former  relations  toward  those-  once  their  masters. 
What  is  now  required  is  that  their  relations  to  the  state  be  defined  with  reference 
to  existing  and  not  past  facts.  When  that  is  done  confidence  between  the  races 
will  be  restored,  each  will  again  become  useful  to  the  other,  and  order  and  pros- 


300  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

perity  will  take  the  place  of  the  confusion  and  vagrancy  which  is  now  seen  on 
every  hand,  to  the  alarm  of  all. 

"As  preliminary  to  this,  and  as  a  preventive  to  vagrancy,  these  people  must 
be  allowed  to  migrate  at  their  pleasure  and  seek  employment  where  it  is  to  be 
found.  Now,  under  the  operation  of  laws  obsolete  for  all  useful  purposes,  and 
alive  only  for  evil,  colored  men  and  women  in  Kentucky  who  might  and  would 
find  employment  elsewhere  are  forbidden  to  cross  the  Ohio  river,  except  on 
almost  impossible  conditions. 

"Capitalists  who  own  and  operate  the  boats  that  navigate  the  river  (which 
has  already  led  some  minds  to  inquire  whether  the  ownership  of  large  property 
is  not  a  disqualification  rather  than  a  proper  qualification  for  the  manly  exer- 
cise of  the  rights  of  citizenship),  terrified  by  these  grim  shadows  of  the  past, 
throw  unjust  and  oppressive  difficulties  in  the  way  of  the  transit  of  even  free 
persons,  while  those  whose  right  to  freedom  is  questioned  by  any  one,  upon 
grounds  however  slight,  are  denied  the  right  of  escaping  from  idleness  and 
enforced  vagrancy  to  where  industry  is  possible  and  employment  within  reach. 
This  difficulty,  however,  can  be  partially  obviated  by  military  authority. 

"Deeply  impressed  by  the  dangers  to  public  health,  which  you  so  truthfully 
and  forcibly  depict,  and  anxious  that  the  laboring  poor  of  the  city  shall  be 
saved  the  terrible  consequences  of  the  'disastrous  pestilence'  of  which  you  as- 
sure me  great  fears  are  entertained,  I  have  caused  to  be  issued  the  General  Order 
No.  32,  from  the  headquarters  of  this  department,  a  copy  of  which  is  herewith 
laid  before  you,  and  will,  I  hope,  meet  your  approval." 

The  General  Order  No.  32  required  all  carriers  of  passengers,  whether  by 
the  river  or  by  the  railroads,  to  transport  colored  persons,  on  the  tender  of  a 
reasonable  fare,  to  their  destinations. 

On  the  first  Monday  in  August,  1865,  Judge  George  W.  Johnston  was 
elected  judge  of  the  circuit  court,  and  at  the  September  term  of  the  circuit  court 
he  charged  the  grand  jury  that  my  order,  No.  32,  was  contrary  to  the  statutes 
of  Kentucky.  The  grand  jury  found  many  indictments  against  me,  alleging 
the  illegality  of  that  order,  under  which,  as  was  charged,  many  slaves  had 
escaped  from  Kentucky. 

Bench  warrants  were  issued  for  my  apprehension  and  placed  in  the  hands 
of  the  sheriff.  He  waited  upon  me  politely  with  the  writs,  and  I  told  him  that 
I  would  certainly  appear  at  the  next  term  of  court  and  answer  the  indictments. 
I  told  him  at  the  same  time  that  I  would  submit  to  an  arrest,  if  he  desired  it. 
but  also  informed  him  that  I  could  not  command  an  army  through  the  grates  of 
a  jail,  and  that  I  had  already  issued  orders  to  General  Watkins,  second  in  com- 
mand at  Louisville,  if  I  was  arrested  and  confined  to  capture  the  jail  and  im- 
prison all  who  were  concerned  in  finding  the  indictments,  including  the  sheriff. 
He  did  not  arrest  me !  .At  the  November  term  of  court  I  appeared,  and  the 
judge  accepted  my  promise  to  appear  and  answer  the  indictments. 

At  the  December  term  of  the  court,  after  Alabama,  which  completed  the 
requisite  number  of  states,  had  adopted  the  constitutional  amendment,  with  the 
Hon.  Milton  Hay,  now  deceased,  while  I  was  engaged  in  a  trial  of  a  suit  in 
the  circuit  court  of  the  United  States,  I  received  a  peremptory  order  to  come 
to  Washington  and  from  thence  proceed  to  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  and  pre- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  301 

side  over  a  court  martial  to  be  convened  at  that  place  for  the  trial  of  certain 
officers  connected  with  the  Freedmen's  Bureau..  I  proceeded  to  Washington, 
received  my  orders  from  the  secretary  of  war,  spent  part  of  the  Fourth  of  July, 
1866,  in  Richmond,  Virginia,  and  arriving  at  Raleigh  on  the  5th,  remained  there 
until  the  i2th  of  August  and  then  returned  to  Washington,  where  I  met  General 
Grant. 

The  General  kindly  offered  to  recommend  me  for  the  appointment  of  briga- 
dier general  in  the  regular  army,  which  I  declined,  and  in  return  offered  him 
ten  thousand  dollars  for  his  first  year's  salary  as  president  of  the  United  States, 
which  he  declined. 

On  my  return  to  Illinois  I  resumed  the  practice  of  the  law  with  Mr.  Hay, 
and  in  April,  1867,  removed  my  family  to  Springfield,  where  I  have  resided 
ever  since.  In  November,  1868,  I  was  elected  governor  of  Illinois,  which  dis- 
solved the  partnership  with  Mr.  Hay.  My  partnership  with  him  was  a  most 
agreeable  and  profitable  one.  He  was  a  great  lawyer  and  an  honest  man ;  his 
logical  power  was  unsurpassed  by  any  one  with  whom  I  have  ever  been  as- 
sociated ;  we  tried  many  causes  of  great  importance. 

I  was  inaugurated  as  governor  on  the  I2th  day  of  January,  1869,  but  on  the 
3Oth  day  of  the  same  month  I  was  compelled  to  veto  an  "act  to  incorporate  the 
La  Salle  Ice  and  Transportation  Company,"  upon  the  ground  that  it  disregarded 
the  registry  laws ;  and  on  the  first  day  of  February,  1869,  I  vetoed  an  act  en- 
titled "an  act  to  repeal  an  act  entitled  an  act  to  establish  a  court  of  common 
pleas  in  the  city  of  Cairo,"  upon  the  ground  that  it  allowed  extra  compensation 
for  services  already  rendered  by  the  marshal  and  ex-marshal  of  the  city  of 
Cairo.  On  the  6th  day  of  February,  1869,  I  vetoed  a  bill  which  organized  a 
district  for  taxation,  including  the  town  of  Greenville,  in  Bond  county,  in  which 
I  said,  "Indeed,  it  seems  to  me  that  we  are  rapidly  reaching  a  point  where  other 
taxation  will  be  impossible ;  the  people  are  now  taxed  by  counties,  cities,  towns, 
townships  and  school  districts,  and  it  is  by  this  bill  proposed  to  lay  off  special 
districts,  strips  and  sections,  so  that  excuses  may  be  found  for  levying  new 
taxes  for  new  objects,  and  thus  eat  up  the  substance  of  the  people." 

I  was  compelled  to  veto  a  bill  which  required  the  city  of  Bloomington  to 
issue  bonds  and  levy  a  tax  for  the  purpose  of  paying  for  the  grounds  recently 
purchased  in  said  city  by  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  Company  for  their 
machine  shops.  I  also  vetoed  a  bill  for  an  "act  to  fund  and  provide  for  paying 
the  railroad  debts  of  counties,  townships,  cities  and  towns"  upon  the  ground 
that  it  required  the  taxes  of  one  municipal  corporation  to  be  devoted  to  another. 

I  vetoed  many  other  bills,  upon  the  grounds  that  they  were  unjust  or  in  vio- 
lation of  the  constitution.  In  all  I  vetoed  one  hundred  and  twelve  bills  passed 
by  the  legislature.  In  many  of  the  vetoes  I  was  sustained  by  the  supreme 
court. 

In  1888  I  was  nominated  as  a  candidate  for  governor  by  the  democratic 
state  convention,  which  met  in  Springfield.  In  1890  I  was  .nominated  as  a  can- 
didate for  United  States  senator  for  a  term  of  six  years,  beginning  on  the  4th 
of  March,  1891,  and  was  elected  on  the  one  hundred  and  fifty-fourth  ballot, 
March  n,  1891.  September  3,  1896,  I  was  nominated  by  the  national  demo- 
cratic party  as  a  candidate  for  the  presidency.  On  the  3d  of  March,  1897,  my 


302  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

term  as  senator  expired,  and  since  that  time  I  have  devoted  myself  to  the  prac- 
tice of  the  law,  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Palmer,  Shutt,  Hamill  &  Lester." 

General  Palmer  was  the  candidate  for  the  gold  standard  democratic  party 
in  1896,  in  opposition  to  William  Jennings  Bryan,  who  had  been  nominated 
at  the  Chicago  convention  of  that  year  by  the  "free  silver"  wing  of  the  party. 
His  death  occurred  September  25,  1900,  Mrs.  Palmer  having  preceded  him  to  the 
grave,  May  9,  1885.  Both  are  interred  in  Carlinville's  beautiful  "city  of  the 
dead." 


CHAPTER  XV 111. 
THE  PRESS. 

THE  PRINTER  EARLY   IN   THE  FIELD  AND  ONE  OF  THE  GREAT  EDUCATIONAL   FACTORS 

OF   THE  DAY A   CONSIDERABLE    HISTORY   OF    MACOUPIN    COUNTY'S    NEWSPAPERS 

— THE    STATESMAN    PIONEER    OF    THEM    ALL MANY    WELL    EDITED    JOURNALS 

ABREAST   OF  THE   TIMES    IN    NEWS    AND    MAKE-UP PAPERS    OF    BY-CONK    DAYS 

ARE    HERE    MENTIONED. 

CARLINVILLE. 

Macoupin  Statesman,  March  4,  1852-55 ;  edited  by  Jefferson  L.  Dugger, 
1852-55.  It  was  an  advocate  of  whig  principles.  Changed  to 

Macoupin  County  Spectator,  1855-68;  edited  by  George  H.  Holliday,  who 
made  it  a  democratic  paper,  1855-57;  Charles  E.  Foote,  1857-58;  John  F.  Megin- 
ness,  1858-61;  Messrs.  Shinkel  and  Gray,  1861-62;  Horace  Gwin,  1862;  J.  R. 
Flynn  and  P.  B.  Vanderen,  1862.  The  last  named  soon  became  the  responsible 
proprietor  and  editor  and  he  continued  it  until  1868,  when  the  Merritjs  of 
Springfield  and  J.  A.  I.  Birdsell  became  possessed  of  it.  Pending  the  negotia- 
tions between  Foote  and  Meginness  the  Spectator  was  suspended  from  Decem- 
ber 21.  1858,  to  January  15,  1859.  The  Merritts  were  connected  with  the  paper 
for  only  a  short  time.  Birdsell  changed  its  name  to 

Macoupin  Times,  1868-71;  he  remained  its  editor,  1868-70;  H.  R.  Whipple, 
1870-71.  In  1871  the  leading  men  of  the  democratic  party  of  Carlinville  con- 
cluded to  form  a  joint  stock  company  and  publish  a  more  thoroughly  demo- 
cratic paper.  The  work  of  canvassing  for  the  stock  was  assigned  to  Restores 
C.  Smalley.  When  the  stock  was  sold  and  the  money  raised,  the  company 
bought  the  Times  printing  office.  The  name  of  the  paper  was  changed  to 

Macoupin  County  Enquirer,  1871  to  date;  edited  by  E.  A.  Snively,  1871-77; 
Samuel  Reed,  1877-79.  In  l&73  the  company  leased  the  institution  to  Mr. 
Snively  and  he  published  it  until  1877,  when  W.  H.  Reed  leased  it.  In  January, 
1879,  Reed  was  succeeded  by  E.  A.  Snively  and  L.  C.  Glessner,  and  in  March, 
1883,  Mr.  Glessner  sold  out  to  Mr.  Snively,  who  soon  sold  the  paper  to  E.  B. 
Buck.  In  August,  1886,  W.  J.  and  C.  J.  Lumpkin  took  charge  of  the  paper  and 
eventually  bought  it.  Since  the  death  of  W.  J.  Lumpkin  a  few  years  ago,  C.  J. 
Lumpkin  has  been  owner,  editor  and  publisher.  When  Messrs.  Snively  and 
Glessner  succeeded  Mr.  Reed,  they  discontinued  the  Herald.  The  paper  was 
semi-weekly  until  1879.  A  daily  was  started  in  1896  and  ib  democratic. 

Free  Democrat,   September  6,    1856-67;  edited  by   William   C.    Phillips  ,for 

303 


304  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

the  first  month;  Mr.  Phillips  and  Henry  M.  Kimball,  1856-59.  Phillips  an- 
nounced in  the  first  number  that  the  paper  was  republican,  would  support  Fre- 
mont and  stand  by  the  ticket  of  the  Bloomington  convention.  In  1859  Mr. 
Kimball  purchased  Mr.  Phillips'  interest  and  remained  sole  proprietor  for  eight 
years.  When  Mr.  Kimball  assumed  proprietorship  John  M.  Palmer  took  charge 
of  the  editorial  department  as  political  editor  and  continued  so  till  near  the  end 
of  the  year,  when  he  was  nominated  for  congress.  From  that  date  till  1867, 
Mr.  Kimball  was  sole  editor  and  proprietor.  In  March.  1867,  the  name  was 
changed  to 

Democrat,  March,  1867,  to  date;  edited  and  managed  by  A.  W.  Edwards 
and  H.  M.  Kimball,  1867-72;  H.  M.  Kimball,  1872-79.  A.  G.  David  was  man- 
ager 1879-81.  Since  1882  it  was  published  and  edited  by  A.  G.  David  until  Octo- 
ber i,  1901,  when  James  E.  McClure  bought  A.  G.  David's  stock  and  became 
publisher.  From  1856  to  1868  the  Democrat  was  issued  weekly,  then  weekly 
and  semi-weekly  until  October,  1898,  daily  then  until  May  24,  1902.  The  paper 
has  always  been  Republican.  There  is  a  complete  file  in  the  office. 

Conservative,  March  24-June  2,  1868;  a  campaign  paper  edited  by  George 
H.  Holliday  and  published  by  the  Macoupin  Printing  Company.  File  owned 
by  A.  G.  David  and  by  the  Macoupin  Printing  Company. 

Volksblatt,  May-November,  1870;  a  German  campaign  organ,  with  Theodore 
Fischer  as  editor. 

Blackburn  Gazette,  October,  1871-73;  a  monthly  quarto  published  at  Black- 
burn University.  Edited  by  students. 

Maeowpin  County  Herald,  March,  1879 — ;  a  democratic  paper  established 
by  L.  C.  Glessner,  with  E.  A.  Snively  as  editor.  After  a  short  time  it  was 
merged  in  the  Enquirer. 

Macoupin  Anzeiger,   1879;   established  by  H.   Schlange.     German. 

STAUNTON. 

Staunton  Times  was  established  in  August,  1878,  by  Showman  and  Lamb, 
who  sold  after  two  months  to  W.  F.  Bently.  It  was  published  and  edited  by 
F.  L.  Blome  from  1885  to  1898;  T.  H.  Edwards,  1898  to  1904;  T.  H.  and  J.  J. 
Edwards,  1904  to  1908;  M.  W.  Meyers,  1909.  Bound  files  dated  from  1885 
to  1908  in  possession  of  T.  H.  Edwards.  The  Times  was  the  first  paper  con- 
ducted in  Staunton  after  the  lapse  of  time  between  1861  until  1878.  In  1858 
the  Staunton  Banner  was  established  by  Parsons  Percy,  a  practical  printer, 
who  brought  the  office  outfit  from  Monroe  county.  The  existence  of  the  Banner 
was  a  precarious  one  and  in  1861  the  plant  was  purchased  and  moved  to 
Gillespie. 

In  1905  John  Camp  came  into  possession  of  the  Star  and  in  November, 
1910,  bought  the  Times.  He  then  hyphenated  the  name  of  the  paper  and  it  is 
now 'known  as  the  Star-Times.  It  is  an  excellent  sheet,  well  patronized,  and 
the  only  paper  published  at  Staunton. 


LIBRARY 

OF  TH£ 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  305 

MT.   OLIVE. 

Teutonia,  established  in  1892,  by  Julius  Schnell,  who  is  the  present  editor 
and  manager.  It  is  the  only  German  newspaper  in  the  county  and  has  good 
support.  It  is  published  every  Friday. 

Herald,  This  paper  was  established  in  1880.  H.  F.  Troeger  is  the  pres- 
ent editor. 

PALMYRA. 

Transcript,  This  paper  was  established  in  1890.  Editor  and  publisher,  Ross 
Etter. 

VIRDEN. 

Record,  August,  1866  to  date;  established  by  Reynolds  and  Milton.  After 
six  months  of  intermittent  solvency  they  sold  to  a  Mr.  Johnson,  who  in  October 
sold  one  half  interest  to  W.  F.  Thompson,  and  in  November  sold  the  other  half 
to  E.  L.  Rich.  Thompson  bought  out  Rich  in  1870,  and  in  1879  was  still  owner 
and  publisher.  In  August,  1885,  Thompson  sold  a  half  interest  to  E.  P.  Kim- 
ball,  and  in  1887  Kimball  became  and  has  continued  sole  owner  and  editor. 
Neutral,  then  democratic. 

News,  April,  1872,  established  by  R.  H.  Ballinger  and  John  Frank.  Publica- 
tion ceased  after  a  year.  Revived  by  A.  M.  Barker,  April,  1873,  and  continued 
till  August,  1874.  A  republican  paper. 

Conservative,  established  March,  1868 ;  edited  and  owned  by  George  H. 
Holliday  and  published  by  the  Macoupin  Printing  Company.  It  was  discontinued 
in  June  of  the  same  year.  A  democratic  paper. 

Reporter,  1879;  established  by  A.  M.  Barker,  who  published  it  one  year; 
then  A.  G.  David  &  Company,  one  year ;  E.  P.  Kimball,  one  year ;  B.  Brown, 
one  year;  then  George  H.  Sewall  until  1897,  when  he  sold  to  John  R.  Under- 
wood, who  is  still  editor  and  publisher.  A  republican  paper. 

GIRARD. 

Enterprise,  November,  1857-58;  edited  by  Dr.  Critchfield,  1857-58;  W.  A. 
Solomon,  1858;  neutral  in  politics.  Changed  to 

Guide,  1858-59;  the  first  editor  was  W.  A.  Solomon,  who  was  succeeded  by 
Mr.  McChesney,  who  took  a  Mr.  Canfield  as  associate.  Changed  to 

News,  1860-61 ;  edited  by  McChesney  and  William  E.  Milton. 

Enterprise,  April,  1865-67;  begun  by  a  Mr.  McChesney  and  William  E. 
Milton.  McChesney  retired  in  October,  1865.  In  March,  1865,  citizens  bought 
the  paper  and  turned  it  over  to  H.  H.  Keebler,  with  William  Shook  as  local 
editor.  After  eight  months  it  was  turned  over  to  Thomas  Organ,  who  changed 
its  political  tone  from  neutral  ^o  republican.  It  was  soon  discontinued. 

Review,  1872-74;  begun  by  William  E.  Milton.  Sold  to  Charles  E.  Fish, 
who  changed  the  name  to 

Democratic  Chief,  1874,  under  which  name  it  continued  for  four  months. 
Three  months  later  it  was  revived  by  William  R.  Crenshaw  and  J.  H.  Power, 
who  soon  resumed  the  name. 

Vol.  1—20 


306  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Review,  1874-78.  J.  H.  Power  was  editor  and  publisher  in  1878.  It  con- 
tinued, under  many  brief  ownerships,  until  November,  1878.  It  was  democratic, 
favorable  to  greenback  ideas  for  a  time. 

Gazette,  January,  1879  to  date;  Tipton  and  Stuve,  proprietors,  William 
Stuve,  editor.  It  was  suspended  in  April  but  publication  was  resumed  after  a 
few  weeks.  A.  H.  Simmons  purchased  Stuve's  part  and  edited  the  Gazette  four 
months,  when  he  sold  to  Tipton.  George  L.  Tipton  published  the  Gazette  until 
December,  1904,  when  he  presented  the  office  to  his  son,  Fred  L.  Tipton.  Neu- 
tral in  politics.  Files  are  in  the  office. 

GILLESPIE. 

Union  and  Gazette,  November,  1860,  established  by  A.  W.  Edwards,  who 
edited  it  until  1863.  Alonzo  James  conducted  it  for  a  time  after  Edwards  left. 
It  was  extremely  democratic.  Edwards  revived  the  paper  in  Bunker  Hill  in 
1866. 

Gillespie  News.  This  paper  was  established  November  22,  1905,  by  the 
Gillespie  News  Publishing  Company,  the  members  of  which  are  S.  P.  Preston 
and  Clinton  Bliss,  of  the  Hillsboro  News.  The  first  few  issues  of  the  paper  were 
of  a  five  column  quarto,  all  home  print.  That  was  the  size  of  the  paper  until 
1908,  when  it  was  enlarged  to  a  six  column  quarto,  all  home  print.  In  1911  a 
linotype  was  installed.  The  plant  has  a  splendid  two-story  brick  building,  re- 
cently erected  and  the  outfit  consists  of  modern  machinery,  new  body  and  dis- 
play type  and  everything  that  goes  to  make  the  up-to-date  newspaper  and  job 
printing  establishment.  The  patronage  is  very  gratifying.  S.  P.  Preston  is  the 
resident  managing  editor. 

BUNKER  HILL. 

Journal,  December,   1859 — May,   1860;  edited  by  E.  J.   Bronson. 

Union  Gazette,  January,  1866-69;  established  by  A.  W.  Edwards  and  con- 
ducted by  him  as  a  republican  paper  until  January,  1867,  when  he  sold  to  A.  R. 
Sawyer  and  F.  Y.  Hedley,  who  made  it  independent  in  politics.  Sawyer  died  in 
1868  and  the  paper  again  became  republican  under  Hedley.  The  name  was 
changed  to 

Gazette,  1869;  F.  Y.  Hedley  continued  as  editor  and  proprietor  until  Jan- 
uary, 1878,  when  W.  S.  Silence  became  publisher.  Said  and  Poorman  leased  the 
paper  in  January,  1879.  Later  Phil  C.  Hansen  edited  the  paper  for  a  stock 
company  of  local  merchants,  who  bought  it  about  1895.  Hansen  bought  the 
stock  later  and  sold  in  1903  to  W.  B.  Powell,  then  running  the  news  (estab- 
lished 1900),  who  combined  the  two  as  Gazette-News,  an  independent  paper. 
He  sold  to  Edward  Wilson  in  1904,  who  a  year  later  sold  to  T.  H.  Truesdale, 
the  present  editor  and  publisher.  Independent  republican. 

BRIGHTON. 

Advance,  April,  1871-80.  A.  G.  Meacham  was  editor  and  proprietor  until 
1875,  when  A.  M.  Parker  bought  in  the  Shipman  True  Flag  and  the  firm  be- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  307 

came  Meacham  &  Parker.  R.  D.  Suddeth  leased  Meacham's  interest  in  1876 
and  was  succeeded  in  1877  by  L.  H.  Chapin.  Parker  bought  Meacham's  share 
in  the  next  year  and  continued  the  paper.  Neutral  in  politics  till  1876,  then 
republican. 

News,  1879  to  date;  established  with  Holly  Glenny  as  editor;  Snively  and 
Kessner,  publishers.  After  a  year  L.  H.  Chapin  succeeded  Glenny.  Later  a  Mr. 
Robertson  bought  the  paper;  then  Frank  Merrill,  succeeded  by  William  C.  Mer- 
rill. A.  William  and  George  Amass  bought  the  paper  from  Merrill,  and  in  1907 
sold  to  iW.  D.  and  Roscoe  Franklin.  They  sold  January  i,  1909,  to  W.  B.  Tiet- 
sort,  and  he,  July  i,  1909,  to  Frank  W.  Lauck. 

MEDORA. 

Enterprise,  August,  1876-78;  J.  H.  Williams  was  editor,  and  Parker  &  Sud- 
deth of  the  Brighton  Advance  were  publishers. 

Ensign,  September  12,  1878.  One  number  was  issued,  printed  at  the  office 
of  the  Brighton  Advance,  and  bearing  the  name  of  Herbert  Lawson  Durr  as 
editor. 

Messenger,  established  January  i,  1895,  after  numerous  attempts  had  been 
made  in  the  village  to  maintain  a  newspaper.  The  first  owners  were  C.  W.  Tiet- 
sort,  cashier  of  the  Bank  of  Medora,  and  Elmer  B.  Ritchie,  of  Abingdon,  Illi- 
nois. They  published  the  paper  for  one  year,  when  Mr.  Tietsort  bought  Mr. 
Ritchie's  interest  in  the  plant.  He  then  admitted  his  son,  Walter  B.  Tietsort,  to 
a  partnership  in  the  business  and  under  the  firm  name  of  C.  W.  Tietsort  &  Son 
they  have  published  the  Medora  Messenger  continuously  since  1896.  Their  entire 
plant  was  destroyed  by  fire,  October  6,  1897,  when  the  business  section  of  Me- 
dora was  burned.  They  immediately  bought  equipment  and  issued  a  paper  the 
following  week.  The  paper  has  always  been  an  important  factor  in  the  civic 
affairs  of  Medora,  is  progressive  and  well  patronized.  It  has  a  circulation  of 
1,100  copies  per  week,  although  published  in  a  town  of  only  /\.\/\  inhabitants. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 
VARIOUS  THINGS. 

TRANSPORTATION STEAM    AND   ELECTRIC  RAILROADS COUNTY   FAIR   ASSOCIATION 

POPULATION      OF     THE     COUNTY MACOUPIN      A      WEALTHY     AND     PROGRESSIVE 

SECTION. 

CHICAGO  &  ALTON. 

Several  railroads  enter  and  cross  Macoupin  county.  The  Chicago  &  Alton 
enters  the  county  on  section  4,  in  Virden  township  and  traverses  the  county  in 
a  southwestern  direction,  leaving  it  at  Brighton,  on  section  19.  The  most  im- 
portant stations  are  Carlinville,  Girard,  Nilwood,  Shipman  and  Brighton.  In 
1852  the  road  was  completed  between  Alton  and  Springfield  and  in  1864  trains 
were  running  to  East  St.  Louis.  Later,  the  road  entered  the  city  of  St.  Louis. 

The  Cleveland,  Cincinnati,  Chicago  &  St.  Louis  has  for  its  main  stations  in 
the  county,  Bunker  Hill,  Dorchester  and  Gillespie;  the  Wabash,  Staunton  and 
Mt.  Olive ;  The  Jacksonville  &  St.  Louis,  Virden  and  Girard ;  St.  Louis,  Rock 
Island  &  Chicago,  Brighton  and  Medora;  Quincy,  Carrollton  &  St.  Louis,  Car- 
linville ;  Chicago,  Peoria  &  St.  Louis,  Medora,  Hettick,  Modesto  and  Chester- 
field ;  Litchfield  &  Madison,  Mt.  Olive  and  Staunton ;  Illinois  Central,  Mt.  Olive ; 
Macoupin  County,  under  management  of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern,  Saw- 
yerville  and  Benld;  St.  Louis,  Springfield  &  Peoria,  Staunton,  Mt.  Olive,  Saw- 
yerville,  Benld,  Gillespie,  Carlinville,  Nilwood,  Girard  and  Virden ;  Chicago  & 
Eastern  Illinois,  track  at  Staunton.  Most  of  these  roads  are  coal  feeders  to 
other  lines. 

THE  FIRST  COUNTY  FAIR  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Agricultural,  Horticultural  and  Mechanical  Association  was  the  first 
organization  in  Macoupin  county  established  for  the  holding  of  annual  meetings 
for  the  exhibition  of  farm  products  and  live  stock.  This  society  was  organized 
in  1854  in  Carlinville.  Major  Lofton  was  the  first  president  and  Mr.  Dews  was 
the  first  secretary.  At  this  meet  all  that  was  exhibited  were  a  few  horses,  oxen, 
cows  and  some  butter.  No  other  farm  products  were  entered.  Wesley  Dugger 
and  Samuel  Welton  exhibited  oxen  and  the  latter  took  first  premium.  The  same 
Mr.  Welton  had  as  his  competitor  as  an  exhibitor  of  milch  cows,  Henry  Fish-* 
back  and  Mr.  Fishback  took  first  premium.  Dr.  Delano,  afterward  a  resident  of 
Bunker  Hill,  exhibited  what  was  considered  to  be  one  of  the  finest  calves  ever 
shown  in  Macoupin  county. 

308 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  309 

Among  those  who  presented  butter  for  the  inspection  of  visitors  and  the  test 
experts  were  Peter  L.  Denby  and  Robert  Purviance.  This  first  exhibition  of 
Macoupin  county  product  was  held  on  the  public  square  in  Carlinville.  The  next 
two  fairs  were  held  in  Captain  Welton's  pasture  west  of  the  city  and  the  fourth 
annual  meet  took  place  near  the  residence  of  Major  B.  T.  Burke. 

After  this  a  movement  took  place  to  secure  a  permanent  exhibition  ground, 
which  resulted  in  grounds  being  purchased  of  Jarrett  Dugger.  To  these  grounds 
subsequently  more  land  was  added.  With  the  exception  of  one  year,  1862, 
annual  fairs  were  held  in  this  county.  In  the  year  especially  mentioned  the 
grounds  were  devoted  to  the  county  as  a  camp  ground  for  soldiers  then  being 
recruited  and  the  place  was  given  the  name  of  Camp  Palmer,  at  which  time  the 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-second  regiment,  organized  by  General  John  I. 
Rinaker,  was  rendezvoused  prior  to  being  called  to  the  front. 

In  1879  tne  Fair  Association  was  organized  under  a  new  charter  which  it 
received  in  1880.  It  then  took  the  title  of  the  Macoupin  Agricultural  Society. 
Its  president  was  Joseph  Bird,  and  secretary,  F.  W.  Crouch.  The  stock  sub- 
scribed at  that  time  was  $6,000  and  the  ground  consisting  of  twenty-two  acres, 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  northwest  of  town,  was  purchased,  where  fairs  were 
held  until  1896.  At  that  time  the  association  went  into  liquidation  and  the 
grounds  were  sold  at  master's  sale  to  George  J.  Castle  for  $4,500,  which  paid 
all  outstanding  debts. 

In  1898  a  new  association  was  formed,  consisting  of  citizens  of  the  county 
and  under  the  auspices  and  direction  of  the  new  owner  from  time  to  time  fairs 
were  held  on  the  old  grounds,  owned  by  Captain  Castle,  until  in  1908,  when  the 
Macoupin  County  Fair  &  Agricultural  Association  was  incorporated,  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $6,000.  This  corporation  purchased  the  old  grounds  and  has 
been  continuing  to  hold  meets  ever  since,  with  gratifying  success. 

The  officials  of  the  present  fair  association  are :  President,  Addison  Bates ; 
secretary,  C.  W.  York;  treasurer,  C.  T.  Carmody. 

COUNTY    INFIRMARY. 

Those  persons  having  the  poor  and  indigent  of  the  county  early  in  its  history 
and  previous  to  the  purchase  of  land,  or  the  erection  of  an  infirmary  building, 
were  remunerated  by  the  county  issuing  orders  from  the  commissioners'  court. 
At  the  September  term  of  court  in  1851,  Judge  John  M.  Palmer  was  instructed 
to  ascertain  and  report  to  the  court  the  cost  of  a  suitable  farm  for  the  poor  and 
indigent.  Also  the  improvements  required  and  such  information  as  he  could 
obtain  relative  to  the  infirmary  system  in  other  counties.  It  transpired  that  in 
the  following  December  a  habitation  was  secured  ready  for  the  reception  of  the 
poor,  with  two  hundred  and  two  acres  of  land  upon  sections  26  and  35  in  Nilwood 
township.  In  March,  1855,  Enoch  Wall  was  appointed  a  commissioner  to  sell 
the  above,  which  it  appears  he  succeeded  in  doing,  for  in  May  of  the  same  year, 
forty  acres  were  purchased  by  the  county  on  section  16,  Carlinville  township, 
which  in  1870,  was  increased  by  the  further  purchase  of  eighty  acres.  Upon 
this  land  a  building  was  erected  in  1856.  and  in  1902  it  was  remodeled  to  the 


310  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

extent  of  adding  a  wing  at  a  cost  of  $12,000.  In  1911  an  electric  lighting  plant 
was  installed  at  a  cost  of  $2,500. 

For  the  past  six  years  John  O'Neil  has  been  superintendent  of  the  county 
infirmary.     His  wife,  Mrs.  O'Neil,  is  the  present  matron. 

CENSUS. 

Population  of  Macoupin  county  from  1830  to  1911,  as  shown  by  the  United 

States  census  reports  for  each  decade:     1830 — 1,990;   1840 — 7,836;    1850 12,- 

355;  1860—24,602;  1870—32,726;  1880—37,705.  For  the  past  three  decades 
the  following  table  will  show  the  growth  of  the  county,  especially  of  the  ten 
years  just  closed,  which  was  greater  than  in  any  equal  period  in  the  history  of 
the  community.  The  table  gives  the  population  of  every  city,  village  and  town- 
ship in  the  county  and  is  complete : 

1910        1900       1890 
Macoupin  County   50,685     42,256    40,380 

Barr  township,  including  part  of  Hettick  village 1,046  1,186       1,088 

Hettick  village  (part  of) 117          116     

Total  for  Hettick  village  in  Barr  and  South  Palmyra 

townships 306          259     

Bird   township    775  808          873 

Brighton  township,  including  part  of  Brighton  village. . . .  1,388  i,555       J>749 

Brighton  village  (part  of) 554  606         697 

Brushy  Mound  township   746  845         849 

Bunker  Hill   township,   including   Bunker  Hill   city  and 

Woodburn  town 2,126  2,516       2,748 

Bunker  Hill  city   .- .  1,046  1,279       1,269 

North  ward    562     

South  ward 484     

Woodburn  town    175     236 

Cahokia  township,   including  Benld  village  and  part  of 

ward  2  of  Gillespie  city 3>978  1,108       1,171 

Benld  village 1,912     

Gillespie  city  (part  of) 693     

Total  for  Gillespie  city  in  Cahokia  and  Gillespie  town- 
ships    2,241  873         948 

Ward  i 639     

Ward  2   914     

Ward  3    688     

Carlinville  township,  including  Carlinville  city 4,443  4,389       4>226 

Carlinville  city   3,616  3,502      3,293 

Ward  i    1,061     

Ward  2   798     

Ward  3    998     

Ward  4   759     

Chesterfield  township,  including  Chesterfield  and  part  of 

Medora  village  i  ,386  1,433       M98 

Chesterfield  village    364  377         374 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  311 

1910  1900  1890 

Medora  village   (part  of) 294  299  337 

Total  for  Medora  village  in  Chesterfield  and  Shipman 

townships    , \^\  449  470 

Dorchester   township,   including   part   of    Dorchester   vil- 
lage      918  913  1,049 

Dorchester  villege  (part  of)    50     42 

Total  for  Dorchester  village  in  Dorchester  and  Gilles- 

pie  townships    102     104 

Gillespie  township,  including  part  of  Dorchester  village 
and  wards  i  and  3  and  part  of  ward  2  of  Gillespie 

city    3.075  i,7i6  i,775 

Dorchester  village   (part  of)    52     62 

Gillespie  city  (part  of)    1,548  873  948 

Girard  township,  including  Girard  city    2,580  2,223  2,139 

Girard    city    1,891  1,661  1,524 

Ward  i    847  

Ward    2 445 

Ward    3 599  

Hilyard   township    908  1,025  1,020 

Honey  Point  township   874  837  895 

Mount  Olive  township,  including  Mount  Olive,  Sawyer- 

ville   and   White    City    villages 5,058  3,481     

Mount   Olive  village    3,501  2,935  r>986 

Sawyerville  village    445  

White    City   village    421 

Nilwood  township,  including  part  of  Nilwood  village. .  1,396  1,341  1,247 

Nilwood  village  (part  of)   399  420     

Total  for  Nilwood  village  in  Nilwood  and  South  Otter 

townships    401  424     

North  Otter  township   783  846  961 

North  Palmyra  township,  including  Modesto  village  and 

part  of  Palmyra  village  1,524  1,606  1,446 

Modesto   village    298  299     

Palmyra  village  (part  of)   408  375  298 

Total  for  Palmyra  village  in  North  and  South  Palmyra 

townships    873  813  505 

Polk  township 722  867  890 

Scottville  township,  including  Scottville  village 1,113  1,293  J>365 

Scottville  village    301  364  363 

Shaw's  Point  township 881  950  995 

Shipman  township,  including  Shipman  village  and  part  of 

Medora  village  i,334  1,484  l,S21 

Medora  village  (part  of)    150  150  133 

Shipman  village   392  396  410 

South  Otter  township,  including  part  of  Nilwood  village. .  910  1,104  1,104 

Nilwood  village  (part  of)   2  4     

South  Palmyra  township,  including  parts  of  Hettick  and 

Palmyra  villages    1,536  1,519  1,527 


312 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 


1910  1900       1890 

Hettick  village  (part  of)    189          143     

Palmyra  village  (part  of)   465  438         207 

Staunton  township,  including  Staunton  city 5,837  3,385       5,285 

Staunton  city  5,048  2,786      2,209 

Ward  i 1,650     

Ward  2   1,263     

Ward  3   1,332     

Ward  4   803     

Virden  township,  including  Virden  city   4,573  2,909      2,038 

Virden  city  4,000  2,280       i  ,610 

Ward    i    994     

Ward  2 1,038     

Ward  3   889     

Ward  4   1,079     

Western  Mound  township  775  917         921 

REAL  PROPERTY. 

One-Third 
Real  or 

Acres  Value  Assessed 

Value 
Staunton    7,931       $     675,585        $   225,195 

Mt.  Olive 7,860  469,814  156,605 

Cahokia    19,852  1,193,175  397,725 

Honey   Point    21,733  98i,345  327-"4 

Shaw's  Point   17-998  887,495  295,831 

Nalwood    12,973  1,293,43°  43M44 

Girard    7,266  859,755  286,585 

Virden    9,980  702,655  234,218 

Dorchester    23,135  727>255  242,418 

Gillespie    21,768  1,321,099  440,366 

Brushy    Mound    18,576  652,570  217,524 

Carlinville    21,684  1,261,665  420,553 

South  Otter    22,915  795,i3O  265,043 

North  Otter   22,697  1,231,251  410417 

Bunker  Hill    22,183  825,805  275,268 

Hilyard    20,239  681,410  227,137 

Polk    15,323  563,739  187,913 

Bird    20,192  987>995  329,332 

South  Palmyra 22,716  7°7>42O  235,807 

North   Palmyra    22,686  1,267,390  422,463 

Brighton    22,698  738,325  246,108 

Shipman    22,408  755,i6o  251,720 

Chesterfield    13,962  754,941  251,647 

Western   Mound    21,961  667,695  222,564 

Barr   23,218  830,675  276,892 

Scottville    23,090  834,415  278,138 


Total  487,044      $22,667,194        $7,555.728 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUP1N  COUNTY 


313 


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314 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 


PERSONALITY. 

One-Third 

Total  or 

Value  Assessed 
Value 

Staunton   $   373.995          $    124,665 

Mt-  Olive  322,089  107,363 

Cahokia    264,144  88,048 

Honey  Point   265,125  88,375 

Shaw's  Point  234,204  78,068 

Nilwood    196,674  65,558 

Girard   388,707  129,569 

Virden    61 1,071  203,690 

Dorchester    . .      119,733  39,9" 

Gillespie    290,037  96,679 

Brushy  Mound   166,647  55,549 

Carlinville    1,061,111  353,704 

South  Otter 164,655  54,885 

North  Otter 210,357  70,1 19 

Bunker  Hill  353,946  1 17,982 

Hilyard 144,888  48,296 

Polk    1 17,108  39,036 

Bird    213,669  71,223 

South  Palmyra   210,183  70,061 

North  Palmyra 476,808  158,936 

Brighton   297,360  99,120 

Shipman   245,139  81,713 

Chesterfield    296,475  98,825 

Western  Mound   133,605  44,535 

Barr    216,165  72,055 

Scottville    205,626  68,542 


Total    $7,579,521 


DRAINAGE  DISTRICTS    IN    MACOUPIN. 


$2,526,507 


A  number  have  been  organized  in  this  county,  which  increases  the  value  and 
productiveness  of  the  soil.  It  has  been  only  a  few  years  since,  that  the  organ- 
ization of  drainage  districts  for  the  purpose  of  reclaiming  or  improving  large 
tracts  of  land,  was  hardly  given  serious  consideration.  There  were  possibly 
many  reasons  for  this  condition,  chief  of  which  was  the  cost.  This,  however, 
has  been  largely  done  away  with  owing  to  the  great  increase  in  value  of  farm 
lands  in  this  county  as  well  as  the  entire  state  and  country.  When  good  land 
rose  in  price  from  something  like  $40  to  $125  and  higher,  in  a  period  of  about 
ten  or  twelve  years,  the  mind  of  the  land  owner  who  had  any  considerable 
acreage  of  waste  or  overflow  land  began  to  turn  in  the  direction  of  making  this 
land  more  valuable  by  protecting  it  and  making  it  more  productive.  The  cost  of 
the  work  was  easily  made  up  by  the  increased  value  of  the  land  benefited,  and 
the  added  certainty  of  larger  and  better  crops. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  315 

Working  conditions  of  good  land  well  situated  and  with  plenty  of  surface 
drainage,  are  vastly  more  favorable  even  in  seasons  which  are  considered  good, 
if  properly  underlaid  with  tile  of  the  correct  size.  A  well  tile-drained  soil  is 
readily  freed  from  excess  water  which,  as  far  as  possible,  enters  the  soil  where 
it  falls,  thus  preventing  to  a  large  extent  the  surface  washing  which  is  so  inju- 
rious to  the  fertility  of  the  soil.  A  well  underdrained  soil  is  open  and  friable, 
readily  absorbing  the  fertilizers,  that  may  be  applied  to  it;  easily  prepared, 
requiring  less  labor  to  put  it  into  condition  for  seed,  which  will  germinate  more 
quickly  and  the  plant  will  grow  more  rapidly. 

A  field  well  drained  will  be  ready  for  the  plow  a  week  in  advance  of  a  like 
soil  not  under-drained,  may  be  planted  several  days  sooner  and  is  from  eight  to 
ten  degrees  warmer.  Drainage  not  only  serves  as  an  exit  for  excessive  mois- 
ture, but  affords  a  means  of  preventing  drouth.  Crops  may  be  harvested  in 
better  condition,  with  an  increase  of  from  twenty-five  to  one  hundred  per  cent. 
Money  invested  in  tile  drainage  pays  a  large  interest  annually  and  is  a  sort  of 
bank  which  never  fails.  In  this  connection  it  can  be  truly  said  that  generations 
may  come  and  go  but  a  well  drained  soil  continues  to  honor  demands  made 
upon  it. 

One  of  the  largest  districts  organized  in  this  county  is  along  the  Macoupin 
Creek  bottom.  The  loss  caused  almost  annually  by  the  overflow  of  Macoupin 
and  other  creeks  in  this  county  is  very  large.  What  makes  this  usually  more 
discouraging  to  the  land  owner  or  renter  is,  that  it  nearly  always  comes  at  a 
time  when  the  crop  is  ready  to  harvest.  Not  infrequently  it  comes  after  har- 
vest and  the  farmer  has  to  stand  and  watch  his  crop  go  floating  away  and  with 
it  of  course  the  results  of  a  hard  summer  or  year's  work.  The  levee  will  pre- 
vent this,  and  at  the  same  time  make  the  crops  sure  and  the  land  worth  much 
more. 

A.  J.  Duggan,  of  Carlinville,  has  been  prominent  in  handling  the  legal  side 
of  the  drainage  propositions  in  this  county,  and  is  in  a  certain  sense  a  pioneer 
attorney  in  this  work.  There  being  no  previous  cases  which  could  be  used  as  a 
guide,  he  has  had  to  blaze  the  way  and  solve  many  difficult  legal  problems  along 
these  lines.  The  law  governing  drainage  and  levees  is  complicated  and  the 
matter  requires  a  great  deal  of  careful  study.  There  are  many  questions  which 
come  up  in  the  organization  of  the  different  districts  and  all  have  to  stand  the 
scrutiny  and  test  of  the  courts.  Mr.  Duggan  has  organized  these  drainage  dis- 
tricts in  such  a  very  successful  manner  that  he  may  at  this  time  be  properly 
considered  a  specialist  in  the  law  on  this  question.  In  a  recent  conversation 
with  him  he  gave  us  some  information  in  regard  to  the  districts  now  organized 
and  being  organized  in  this  county.  Drainage  district  No.  I  was  organized  in 
South  Otter  township  and  was  one  of  the  first  to  be  formed.  It  was  commenced 
about  four  years  ago.  The  contract  has  been  let  and  the  work  is  fully  under 
way.  The  district  covers  about  1,600  acres  and  the  cost  to  those  interested 
will  be  $8,000.  The  Coyne-Nail  district,  No.  i,  is  small,  and  lies  south  of 
Barnett,  on  the  Montgomery  county  line.  The  petition  in  this  case  was  filed  in 
April,  1910,  and  the  work  was  completed  in  December,  1910.  It  reclaimed  a 
tract  heretofore  worthless  swamp  land,  of  moderate  size. 


316  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Honey  Point  district  No.  5  as  mentioned  previously  in  this  article  was  begun 
two  years  ago.  Delay  was  caused  by  the  fact  that  the  commissioners  con- 
sidered the  first  bid  to  be  too  high.  In  the  second  bid  made  the  contractor 
failed  to  file  the  necessary  bond.  This  district  is  composed  of  1,300  acres  and 
the  cost  will  amount  to  about  $7,000.  The  law  provides  that  bonds  for  drainage 
districts  may  draw  6  per  cent  interest,  but  the  bonds  of  Honey  Point  district 
found  a  ready  sale  at  5  per  cent. 

The  Chesterfield-Ruyle  is  a  levee  and  drainage  district  and  is  now  in  process 
of  organization,  and  is  at  present  in  court.  This  district  will  involve  the  con- 
struction of  33,000  feet  of  levee  and  several  thousand  feet  of  open  ditches.  It 
is  hoped  to  get  the  matter  in  shape  to  let  the  contract  by  the  middle  of  the 
summer. 

Huddleston-Meiners  Union  district  No.  i,  is  located  on  the  north  line  of 
Honey  Point  township  and  the  south  line  of  Shaws  Point.  This  was  organized 
last  fall.  The  contract  will  be  let  shortly  and  covers  about  one  thousand  acres. 

District  No.  2,  South  Otter  township,  is  now  in  process  of  formation.  The 
number  of  acres  to  be  drained  will  be  1,800.  The  preliminary  surveys  have  been 
made  and  the  engineer  and  attorney  are  ready  to  put  together  the  plans  and 
specifications  for  the  work.  This  is  all  of  the  organized  work  now  being  done 
in  Macoupin  county.  Of  course  there  is  much  private  work  being  done. 

The  object  in  organizing  a  drainage  district  is  for  the  purpose  of  enabling 
the  work  to  be  done  cheaper  and  in  a  much  more  satisfactory  manner  than  if 
done  privately.  This  is  especially  so  where  the  acreage  is  large  and  several 
land  owners  are  concerned.  It  has  frequently  been  found  that  one  string  of 
large  tile  can  be  laid  that  will  drain  a  body  of  land  much  better  than  if  two 
strings  were  laid  and  at  much  less  cost  and  with  little  or  no  conflict  of  interests. 

The  Chesterfield-Ruyle  district  was  organized  under  a  law  especially  pro- 
vided for  levees.  The  commissioners  for  a  district  of  this  kind  are  appointed 
by  the  county  court.  Those  districts  must  be  formed  by  petition  to  the  court 
and  can  not  be  formed  otherwise.  This  law  is  known  as  the  levee  act.  Where 
no  levees  are  required  the  districts  are  usually  organized  under  what  is  commonly 
known  as  the  farm  drainage  act.  It  is  much  less  expensive  to  organize  under 
this  law  than  the  levee  act. 

Under  the  farm  drainage  act  the  commissioners  of  highways  of  the  different 
townships  are  ex  officio  the  drainage  commissioners  in  their  respective  towns, 
until  the  district  has  been  regularly  organized.  The  law  provides  for  the 
election  of  drainage  commissioners  in  each  district  to  take  the  place  of  the 
highway  commissioners,  after  that  district  has  been  duly  organized.  In  most 
cases  the  people  usually  have  the  commissioners  of  highways  to  carry  the  work 
along  to  the  point  where  the  district  becomes  legally  organized.  After  this 
they  elect  from  the  land  owners  three  commissioners  to  formulate  plans  and 
carry  out  the  work.  All  districts,  whether  under  the  levee  act  or  the  farm 
drainage  act,  are  organized  on  petition  of  interested  adult  land  owners. 

In  the  work  of  the  districts  in  this  county  the  surveying  has  been  done  by 
S.  T.  Morse  and  the  Morse- Warren  Engineering  company. 


CHAPTER  XX. 
REMINISCENCES. 

THE     PIONEER     PREACHER    AND     HIS     BRIDE LOG    COURT     HOUSE     USED     FOR     MANY 

PURPOSES MENTION    OF    CARLINVILLE's    FIRST   INHABITANTS METHODIST   AND 

BAPTIST   CHURCHES   ORGANIZED FIRST  CHILD   BORN    IN    THE    COUNTY    SEAT. 

The  writer  of  the  following  interesting  and  valuable  article  on  the  early 
history  of  this  community  was  the  wife  of  Rev.  Stith  M.  Otwell,  who  came  to 
Macoupin  county  in  1831  and  founded  the  Methodist  church  at  Carlinville. 
Some  time  after  the  death  of  her  husband  she  became  the  wife  of  Ruel  Wright. 
By  her  first  husband  she  had  six  children  and  by  the  latter  four  and  at  the 
time  of  her  death,  which  was  many  years  ago,  her  grandchildren  numbered  at 
least  forty.  "Grandma"  Wright,  as  she  was  familiarly  called,  survived  both 
her  husbands  and  at  the  time  of  her  death  was  over  eighty  years  of  age.  The 
exact  time  this  worthy  pioneer  Christian  woman  wrote  her  reminiscences  cannot 
be  determined,  but  the  reader  will  be  governed  in  reckoning  dates  and  occur- 
rences by  allowing  the  passage  of  at  least  a  quarter  of  a  century  from  the  time 
the  words  were  written  and  the  present  (1911) : 

A  great  many  persons,  since  the  organization  of  the  Old  Settlers'  Society 
have  essayed,  orally  and  otherwise,  to  furnish  sketches  of  the  early  settlement 
of  this  county  and  Carlinville.  Many  of  these  narratives  have  been  very  inter- 
esting, especially  to  the  older  residents.  The  writer  of  this  sketch,  known  to 
have  been  among  the  very  first  to  cast  their  lot  in  this  "border  of  civilization," 
has  often  been  importuned  to  add  her  mite  to  the  "early  recollections"  of  the 
place  and  times,  and  reluctantly  makes  this  effort.  Many  incidents  worthy  of 
being  chronicled  have  passed  away,  but  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  following  may 
aid  in  filling  up  the  gaps  left  by  preceding  historians. 

SENT    BY   PETER   CARTWRIGHT. 

It  was  in  the  summer  of  1831  that  Stith  M.  Otwell,  who  was  in  charge  of 
Lebanon  circuit,  Madison  county,  Illinois,  was  informed  by  his  presiding  elder, 
Rev.  Peter  Cartwright,  that  in  the  tract  of  country  called  Macoupin  there  had 
been  a  town  laid  out  called  Carlinville.  The  families  who  settled  in  the  county 
had  mostly  chosen  the  edge  of  the  timber  where  it  joined  the  prairie. 

317 


318  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

PLANS   A    MISSION. 

In  the  midst  of  this  "wilderness"  was  the  site  of  Carlinville.  Mr.  Otwell 
made  a  plan  of  a  mission,  including  this  town,  with  some  of  his  appointments 
on  Lebanon  circuit,  and  laid  it  before  the  Illinois  conference.  They  accepted 
it  and  gave  to  him  the  appointment.  Returning  home  he  made  arrangements  to 
come  on  to  Carlinville,  to  see  if  a  home  could  be  had  in  which  to  place  his 
family  while  attending  to  the  circuit.  None  could  be  found,  but  Ezekiel  Good 
told  him  to  bring  them  to  his  house  until  some  other  arrangement  could  be 
made.  So,  with  that  understanding,  he  returned  and  made  ready  to  move  his 
family  to  his  new  field  of  labor. 

With  a  hired  wagon  to  transport  our  few  belongings,  and  Father  William 
Otwell  with  a  covered  buggy  for  the  family,  including  Amzi  Day,  a  ten  year  old 
brother  of  the  writer,  we  set  forth.  There  had  been  much  rain  and  the  roads 
were  terrible.  We  were  compelled  to  stop  the  first  night  at  a  farm  house, 
fifteen  miles  from  our  destination.  Starting  next  morning,  we  thought  soon 
to  be  at  the  end  of  our  journey,  but  upon  arriving  at  the  Macoupin  creek  we 
found  it  had  overflowed  its  banks,  and  not  until  our  goods  could  be  ferried 
over  in  a  canoe  could  we  proceed.  About  sunset  we  came  in  sight  of  the 
town  and  immediately  went  to  the  home  of  Mr.  Good. 

We  got  our  supper,  spread  our  beds  upon  the  floor  and  went  to  sleep.  Next 
day  Mr.  Otwell  was  obliged  to  look  again  for  a  home.  Nothing  but  the 
schoolhouse  offered  and  in  it  we  found  a  temporary  shelter. 

A  TOWN  OF  SIX  DWELLINGS. 

Carlinville  had  not  many  houses  in  those  days.  There  were  but  six  dwelling 
houses  in  the  place,  besides  one  blacksmith  shop,  one  store,  one  dramshop,  and 
the  courthouse,  schoolhouse  and  tavern — all  of  them  built  of  logs  or  clapboards. 
The  tavern  stood  just  opposite  to  where  the  Dubois  bank  building  now  stands 
and  was  kept  by  Lewis  English.  It  contained  three  rooms,  one  large  one  in 
front  for  a  bar  room,  and  two  smaller  ones  back  for  kitchen,  dining  room,  bed 
room,  etc.  There  were  two  buildings  occupied  by  a  Mr.  Plant — one  as  a  dwelling 
house  and  the  other  as  a  store.  They  were  on  the  west  side  of  the  square  and 
another  cabin  tenanted  by  Mr.  Smith,  who  had  made  a  few  bricks  the  year 
before.  Two  small  cabins  stood  on  the  southeast  corner  of  the  square,  in  one 
of  which  A.  S.  Walker  lived,  and  in  the  other  kept  a  gunsmith  shop. 

These  were  all  of  the  buildings  around  the  square,  in  the  center  of  which 
stood  the  courthouse.  Then,  as  now,  East  Main  street  was  a  desirable  locality 
for  building,  and  upon  it  were  three  cabins— one  built  about  where  Hugh  Win- 
ton's  house  now  stands ;  another  upon  what  was  called  the  Boice,  now  known 
as  the  Daley  property,  and  one  just  opposite,  upon  what  is  now  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  courthouse  yard. 

CARLINVILLE'S  FIRST  SCHOOLHOUSE. 

The  schoolhouse  into  which  we  moved  was  near  where  Dr.  Matthews'  res- 
idence now  stands.  It  was  built  by  Harbird  Weatherford,  costing  the  sum  of 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  CpUNTY  319 

forty  dollars.  It  was,  of  course,  built  of  logs,  and,  I  should  think,  about 
18x20  feet  in  dimensions.  In  it  was  a  large  fire  place  with  stick  and  clay  chim- 
ney and  rock  hearth.  There  was  one  door  and  one  window — the  door  made  of 
clapboards  nailed  upon  cross  pieces,  was  hung  upon  wooden  hinges  and  fas- 
tened by  the  old  fashioned  latch  and  string.  The  window  was  similar  to  the 
door.  Wide  planks  were  thrown  down  loose  for  flooring,  they  only  half  way 
covering  the  sleepers  upon  which  they  rested.  As  the  building  was  set  upon 
logs  laid  under  the  corners,  I  used  to  be  afraid  lest  the  wolves  that  we  heard 
howling  around  the  house  should  crawl  under  and  come  up  between  the  sleepers 
and  try  to  make  our  acquaintance.  I  dared  not  let  Mr.  Otwell  leave  me  alone 
with  the  little  one,  and  so  we  were  not  sorry  when,  after  staying,  there  a  week, 
Asher  Beauchamp,  just  from  Kentucky,  was  employed  to  teach  the  school 
and  we  had  to  leave  the  first  parsonage  of  Carlinville. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Good  kindly  invited  us  to  come  and  live  with  them  until  a 
house  could  be  built  for  himself,  which  took  six  weeks.  While  there  we  in- 
quired whose  was  the  first  family  in  the  town,  and  learned  that  it  was  their 
own.  Seth  Hodges  entered  the  land  and  employed  Mr.  Good  to  lay  off  the 
town.  Then  Mr.  Good  entered  an  eighty  just  east  of  it,  and,  returning  to  his 
family  in  Greene  county,  made  ready  to  move,  and  with  two  young  men  to 
assist  in  driving  the  team  and  stock,  he  with  his  wife  and  three  children  wended 
their  way  to  this  land  of  promise.  At  night  Mrs.  Good  and  the  children  slept 
in  the  wagon  and  the  men  under  it,  until  they  could  erect  a  small  house  in  which 
to  put  their  beds.  Afterwards,  when  they  had  built  a  good,  substantial  one, 
twenty  feet  square,  this  small  one  became  their  smokehouse.  It  was  in  this 
large  house  that  they  were  living  when  they  extended  to  us  a  "shelter  in  a 
weary  land."  It  was  a  wonderful  room,  too,  for  it  held  two  families  in  great 
comfort,  besides  being  the  county  surveyor's  office,  the  postoffice,  and  before  we 
left  a  small  stock  of  dry  goods  was  offered  for  sale. 

THE    POSTOFFICE    A    CANDLE    BOX. 

A  common  candle  box  served  as  postoffice,  it  being  set  upon  a  high  shelf 
to  be  out  of  the  way  of  the  children.  Once  a  week  a  man  on  horseback 
passed  through  the  town,  carrying  the  mail  bags.  Very  few  letters,  though, 
were  left  here,  for  I  think  the  box  was  never  quite  full.  It  was  not  always  a 
pleasure,  either,  to  know  there  were  letters  in  the  office  for  you,  for  there  were 
charges  to  be  paid,  varying  from  ten  to  twenty-five  cents,  according  to  the 
distance  it  had  come.  And  it  was  very  trying  to  have  paid  out  your  last  cent 
and,  upon  opening  the  letter,  find  it  only  an  inquiry  about  some  sections  of  land, 
etc.,  the  writer  thereof  not  having  grace  enough  to  prepay  the  postage.  That 
was  before  the  days  of  the  wonderful  three  cent  stamp  that  now  carries  a  letter 
to  any  part  of  the  United  States,  and  as  for  the  convenient  postal  card,  our  wildest 
dreams  had  never  soared  so  high.  Often  has  Mr.  Otwell  paid  out  fifty  cents 
per  week  for  those  business  letters,  and  when  I  expostulated  with  him  for  it 
he  would  reply,  "O,  it  is  for  the  good  of  the  town ;  help  build  it  up."  But  it 
did  seem  hard,  when  we  remembered  that  there  was  our  home  to  build,  our 
clothing  to  buy,  as  well  as  provisions  for  the  year,  and  being  allowed  by  the 


320  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Missionary  Society  but  $100  a  year,  it  behooved  us  to  spend  the  money  care- 
fully. In  a  new  country,  that  way,  it  was  not  often  that  one  could  eke  out  a 
small  salary  by  working  for  others,  for  most  all  were  alike  in  that  respect — 
too  poor  to  hire  work  done. 

One  evening  while  we  were  making  our  home  at  Mr.  Good's,  he  returned 
from  a  surveying  expedition,  somewhere  further  up  north.  On  his  rounds  he 
had  procured  a  quarter  of  beef  and  was  bringing  it  home,  when  the  wolves, 
which  roamed  upon  the  prairies  over  which  he  was  passing,  scented  it  and  gave 
chase.  It  was  a  pretty  close  run — the  oxen  that  drew  the  wagon  being  pro- 
verbially slow,  although  doing  their  best,  were  surely  being  overtaken.  Com- 
ing to  close  quarters  he  threw  at  them  his  remaining  stakes  (not  steaks),  shout- 
ing and  hallooing  to  frighten  them  as  well  as  to  urge  on  his  panting  oxen.  And 
so  he  rode  into  the  town  in  triumph,  bringing  the  beef  with  him. 

The  Goods  were  worthy  pioneers  and  to  be  honored  and  remembered.  He 
was  one  of  the  kindest  hearted,  most  unselfish  men  in  the  world.  Mrs.  Good 
was  a  good  manager,  smart  and  neat.  "Have  things  comfortable,"  was  her 
favorite  expression.  They  are  all  gone  now  but  "little  Minerva,"  who  is  the 
honored  wife  of  Lewis  Johnson,  of  Buford. 

BUYS   A  LOT  FOR  FIFTEEN   DOLLARS. 

Mr.  Otwell  bought  the  lot  on  which  Dr.  John  W.  Hankins  residence  now 
stands,  for  $15,  then  cut  and  hauled  logs  from  the  timber  south  of  town,  hired 
men  to  hew  them,  and  then  with  the  assistance  of  a  few  neighbors,  raised  his  cabin. 
This  was  covered  with  clapboards.  A  stick  and  clay  chimney  half  way  to  the 
roof  completed  the  fire  place.  The  cracks  were  then  chinked,  but  the  weather 
turning  bitter  cold,  they  could  not  be  daubed  until  the  next  summer.  We  took 
possession  of  our  house  between  Christmas  and  New  Year's.  Mr.  Plant  was 
our  nearest  neighbor,  and  if  I  ever  envied  anybody,  it  was  them.  They  had  -a 
tight  puncheon  floor,  clapboards  on  the  joints,  a  chimney  quite  to  the  top  of 
the  roof,  the  cracks  closed  up  with  mud,  outside  and  in,  and — crowning  glory 
of  all — a  window  with  six  panes  of  glass,  the  only  glass  then  in  Carlinville. 

Still,  we  did  not  need  the  window  to  give  us  light,  for  that  came  to  us  through 
the  roof,  the  floor,  down  the  wide  mantled  chimney,  and  between  the  logs  on 
every  side  of  the  room. 

The  winter  was  unusually  cold  and  the  snow  that  fell  in  quantities,  drifted 
in  upon  us  often  covering  everything  and  deadening  the  coals  in  the  fire  place. 
It  was  nothing  strange  in  the  mornings  to  waken  and  find  that  nature  had  pro- 
vided our  bed  with  a  beautiful  white  blanket  of  snow,  more  beautiful,  however,  to 
the  sight  than  to  the  touch.  Sometimes  when  the  wind  came  from  the  east,  the 
room  would  soon  be  filled  with  smoke.  When  I  could  bear  it  no  longer,  the 
door  would  be  thrown  open,  the  burning  sticks  be  pitched  out  of  doors  upon  the 
snow,  and  the  room  allowed  to  clear  of  smoke.  Soon  the  stinging  cold  would 
drive  us  to  gather  up  the  blackened  chunks  and  seek  to  rekindle  the  fire.  I 
used  to  wrap  our  little  baby  boy  in  a  shawl  and  sit  with  him  for  hours  by  the 
fire  to  keep  him  comfortable.  It  was  a  great  deal  that  winter  to  do  the  neces- 
sary work  for  the  family,  our  great  effort  being  to  get  warm,  for  I  can't  remem- 


O 

-6 


LIBRAHY 

OF  IHt 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  321 

her   ever  being   really   warm   the   winter   through,   except   when   at  one  of   the 
neighbor's. 

CORN    BREAD  AND  VENISON. 

Our  bill  of  fare  that  winter  was  corn  bread  and  venison,  with,  some  sugar 
and  coffee  that  we  had  brought  with  us.  The  flour  that  we  had  brought  had 
been  used  before  we  moved  into  the  new  house.  As  for  butter,  milk  or  veg- 
etables, we  had  none,  and  fruit  was  not  seen  in  the  place  for  years  after  we 
came.  When  a  girl,  I  had  listened  to  missionary  sermons,  and  my  heart  was 
stirred  with  thoughts  of  the  poetry  of  self  sacrifice,  the  delights  of  such  a  life, 
and  I  thought  that  being  a  missionary  one  would  necessarily  be  very  good. 
But  come  to  try  the  reality,  and  the  goodness  settled  down  into  endurance, 
while  the  poetry  vanished,  leaving  nothing  but  the  saddest  of  prose. 

Things  were  never  so  bad  with  us  after  that  first  year,  for  Mr.  Otwell,  al- 
though not  believing  in  a  minister  engaging  in  secular  calling,  felt  that  something 
must  be  done  to  keep  his  family  from  starving.  So  in  the  spring  he  bought  a 
stock  of  goods  from  Alton,  and  in  company  with  S.  C.  Kendall,  his  brother-in- 
law,  opened  a  store  in  the  cabin  on  what  is  now  the  Boice  property. 

t 

THE  FIRST  COURT  HOUSE. 

The  first  court  house  in  Carlinville  was  a  hewed  log  building  about  20x24 
feet,  situated  in  the  center  of  the  square.  It  had  one  door  on  the  north  and  a 
window  on  the  south.  By  the  window  was  a  platform  made  of  logs  covered 
by  unplaned  white  plank.  The  judge's  chair  of  today  would  hardly  recognize 
its  predecessor  in  the  poor  little  bench  then  used.  And  yet  it  was  occupied  by 
some  as  truly  good  and  noble  as  the  present  incumbent.  Just  in  front  of  this 
bench  stood  the  desk  to  hold  the  books  and  candle  when  necessary.  It  was 
formed  of  two  short  upright  planks  with  another  one  laid  across  the  top.  In 
summer  time  the  window  was  left  open  but  in  winter  clapboards  were  nailed 
across  it.  The  room  was  seated  with  slab  benches  and  fully  accommodated  all 
who  wished  admittance.  Simplicity  of  style  in  the  house  and  furnishings  marked 
the  court  house  of  those  days,  even  as  grandeur  does  the  present.  But  then 
the  people  could  not  afford  to  do  better,  but  they  pajd  the  $45.00  which  the 
building  cost  and  at  that  time  the  people  were  not  much  troubled  on  the  sub- 
ject of  taxation. 

The  court  house  served  as  preaching  place  for  the  different  denominations 
untU  such  time  as  they  could  build  houses  for  themselves.  There  was  no  en- 
closure, and  upon  the  hillocks  surrounding  the  house  strawberries  were  gath- 
ered the  following  spring.  Hazel  bushes,  too,  were  plentiful  on  the  square, 
yes,  and  used  sometimes,  for  I  once  saw  a  woman  whose  child  troubled  her 
during  preaching,  rise  from  her  place  among  the  worshippers  and  taking  him 
without,  gave  heed  unto  Solomon's  advice,  "chasten  thy  son  while  there  is  hope, 
and  let  not  thy  soul  spare  for  his  crying."  That  child  is  a  resident  of  this 
county  and  has  held  many  positions  of  trust  in  the  county — thus  showing  that, 
for  once  at  least,  the  lesson  was  not  thrown  away. 


322  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

There  was  so  little  business  done  in  the  county  that  one  man  could  attend 
to  that  of  several  offices.  Tristram  P.  Hoxey  was  recorder,  county  clerk,  and 
I  believe  also  treasurer.  Jefferson  Weatherford  was  sheriff.  The  county  court 
was  composed  of  Lewis  Solomon,  Seth  Hodges  and  Roger  Snell.  Many  of 
their  descendants  are  now  living  in  the  county  and  are  highly  respected  mem- 
bers of  society. 

Ezekiel  Good  was  county  surveyor.  Macoupin  county  was  then  represented 
in  the  legislature  by  Joseph  Borough,  of  Carlinville. 

A.  S.  Walker  must  have  been  justice  of  the  peace,  for  from  the  time  of  our 
first  acquaintance  with  him  he  was  called  squire.  He  was  a  good  hunter  in  those 
days,  supplying  not  only  his  own  but  several  other  families  with  game,  with  which 
the  prairies  abounded.  Prairie  chickens,  deer,  quail,  rabbits,  etc.  could  be  had  at 
any  time  for  the  shooting,  and  occasionally  a  bear  would  be  found. 

THE   FIRST   JAIL.     . 

The  first  county  jail  was  built  upon  West  Main  street,  tolerably  near  the 
square.  It  was  built  of  squared  logs  three  double,  the  floors  also  of  squared 
logs.  There  were  two  rooms,  one  above  and  one  below,  the  lower  one  having  no 
door  and  only  one  small  grated  window.  This  was  the  cell  for  the  worst  kind 
of  criminals.  The  upper  room  was  reached  by  means  of  an  outside  stairway.  In 
the  floor  of  this  room  was  a  trap  door  through  which  the  prisoners  descended 
to  the  one  below;  the  ladder  being  then  withdrawn  and  the  door  closed.  It  was 
in  this  cell  that  Aaron  Todd  with  Larkin  Scott  was  confined  and  awaited  execu- 
tion for  having  murdered  his  cousin.  There,  in  later  years,  Andrew  I.  Nash  was 
placed  until  the  day  of  his  execution  should  arrive,  he  having  been  convicted  of 
murder  for  the  killing  of  Nick  Lockerman.  Upon  that  day  people  had  gath- 
ered from  all  quarters  to  witness  the  hanging,  some  families  coming  a  distance 
of  sixty  miles  in  ox  wagons.  Hearing  that  a  reprieve  had  been  granted,  the 
crowd  was  greatly  disappointed  and  soon  became  an  angry,  turbulent  mob.  They 
gathered  about  the  jail,  cursing  and  swearing  at  the  helpless  wretch,  and  finally 
became  so  threatening  that  a  strong  guard  was  placed  about  the  jail  to  prevent 
lynching.  After  a  while,  some  of  the  authorities,  upon  going  to  the  cell,  found 
that  the  poor  fellow  had  become  so  terrified  that  he  had  drawn  the  cord  from  his 
bedstead,  with  it  had  hung  himself,  and  was  dead. 

THE   OLD   SEMINARY. 

It  was  about  the  year  1834  that  the  school  building  known  as  the  "old  semi- 
nary" was  built.  The  first  teachers  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Orin  Cooley  and  after- 
wards Miss  'Almira  Packard,  and  Mrs.  Whipple.  They  were  pretty  good  teach- 
ers and  gave  good  satisfaction.  They  were  from  the  east  and  were  well  educated. 

THE    FIRST    SERMON. 

The  first  sermon  preached  in  Carlinville  of  which  I  have  any  knowledge,  was 
one  by  Mr.  Otwell  soon  after  our  arrival.  The  meeting  was  held  at  the  tavern 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  323 

kept  by  Lewis  English,  the  congregation  consisting  of  four  women  and  two  or 
three,  children.  Outside  the  company  was  much  larger.  Mr.  Otwell  did  not 
continue  to  hold  services  there,  but  appointed  prayer  meetings  at  Mr.  Good's, 
meantime  searching  throughout  the  county  for  preaching  places.  Carlinville  being 
the  only  town  then  laid  out,  of  course  all  was  new,  but  he  succeeded  so  well 
that  at  the  close  of  the  conference  year  he  had  twenty-eight  or  thirty  appoint- 
ments. These  he  reported  to  the  conference  as  a  circuit,  to  which  he  was  re- 
turned. During  that  year  his  health  failed  so  from  the  effects  of  exposures  the 
previous  winter  that  often,  while  traveling  the  circuit,  he  would  be -compelled  to 
alight  from  his  horse  and  lie  down  upon  the  ground  to  rest.  The  next  fall  he  was 
not  able  to  do  effective  work  and  Rev.  Elihu  Springer  was  sent  to  the  place. 
Since  then  the  Methodist  church  has  not  been  without  a  pastor. 

At  one  of  his  appointments,  Sulphur  Springs,  he  met  an  English  lady  who  has 
since  been  one  of  the  well  known  and  honored  characters  among  us — '"Grandma" 
Dumville;  she  who  was  "grandma"  to  everyone,  both  old  and  young.  She  was 
ever  a  faithful  attendant  at  the  place  of  worship.  .  When  the  time  for  preaching 
came  around,  nothing  but  sickness  could  keep  her  from  the  meetings,  and  the 
four  miles  between  her  home  and  the  place  for  gathering  was  cheerfully  walked, 
that  she  might  have  the  pleasure  of  listening  to  the  preacher's  words.  And  often, 
while  there,  the  joy  of  the  Lord  so  filled  her  heart  that  shouts  of  praise  and 
thanksgiving  to  God  would  burst  forth  from  her  lips,  electrifying  the  whole  con- 
gregation. I  think  no  one  ever  doubted  Grandma  Dumville's  religion,  and  some- 
times her  simple  but  earnest  inquiry  "do  you  love  the  Lord  Jesus?"  would  find 
lodgment  in  the  heart,  a  thought  they  could  not  get  away  from  until  at  last  that 
soul  found  rest  in  His  love.  Hers  was  a  bright,  joyful,  Christian  life,  not  but 
that  she  had  sorrow,  for  of  that  a  full  cup,  even  to  the  bitter  dregs,  was  wrung 
out  to  her.  As  "sorrowful,  yet  always  rejoicing;  as  poor,  yet  making  many 
rich,"  has  truly  been  her  experience.  But  'tis  not  necessary  to  tell  of  her  life, 
for  she  was  well  known  among  us.  She  has  now  gone  home  to  glory,  and  has 
proved  by  sweet  experience  that  as  for  the  joys  and  pleasures  of  earth,  "one  mo- 
ment of  heaven  outweighs  them  all." 

It  was  the  spring  after  our  arrival,  that,  the  weather  being  warm  enough  to 
sit  without  fire,  meetings  were  held  in  the  court  house.  Prayer  and  class  meet- 
ings were  held  at  our  house  and  it  was  after  one  of  these  that  Mr.  Otwell  opened 
the  doors  of  the  Methodist  church  and  Mother  Tennis,  Thomas  C.  Kendall,  Will- 
iam Brown  and  Nancy  Reader  Brown,  his  wife,  and  Mary  B.  Otwell  gave  their 
hands,  and  thus  the  first  Methodist  society  of  Carlinville  was  formed.  From  that 
small  beginning  it  has  increased  in  numbers,  and  has  never  been  without  the 
usual  church  ordinances. 

BAPTIST  SOCIETY  ORGANIZED. 

Afterwards,  in  1833,  Rev.  Elihu  Palmer,  brother  of  ex-Governor  Palmer, 
also  preached  in  the  court  house  and  organized  a  Baptist  society,  which  has 
ever  since  been  in  existence.  His  good  wife  was  president  of  the  Maternal  As- 
sociation. Their  daughter,  Fannie  Kimball,  is  now  a  member  of  the  society  her 
father  formed. 


324  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

It  was  not  very  long  after  Elihu  Palmer's  arrival  that  Dr.  Gideon  Blackburn 
came  to  Carlinville  to  look  for  a  site  upon  which  to  build  his  college,  preaching  to 
the  people  in  the  court  house.  Among  the  first  converts  admitted  to  the  Presby- 
terian church  then  formed  were  T.  P.  Hoxey  and  Daniel  Anderson.  Dr.  Black- 
burn was  one  of  giant  intellect  and  with  wide  reaching  plans  for  the  good  of  his 
fellow  creatures.  It  was  our  pleasure  to  entertain  him  a  few  times  at  our  home, 
and  we  always  found  him  entertaining,  genial  company,  so  that  he  was  indeed  a 
welcome  guest.  The  members  of  those  churches  can,  however,  furnish  a  far 
better  account  of  those  early  days  than  could  be  given  by  an  outsider  . 

The  people  of  Carlinville  in  the  year  1832  were  truly  social  and  did  not  care 
to  keep  all  their  nice  things  to  themselves.  It  was  the  good  fortune  of  a  num- 
ber of  families  in  the  town  to  be  invited  to  the  tavern  to  partake  of  a  New 
Year's  dinner,  which  for  the  times  was  very  good.  The  dinner  consisted  of  corn 
bread  made  light  and  baked  the  day  before,  and  roasted  backbones  and  ribs, 
with  gravy.  This,  with  homemade  coffee  was  the  entire  bill  of  fare,  but  there 
being  an  abundance  of  it  all  were  fully  satisfied.  Soon  after  dinner  the  twang- 
ing of  the  fiddle  warned  those  who  did  not  wish  to  "trip  the  light  fantastic  toe" 
that  the  time  for  leaving  had  come.  The  dancing  continued  until  a  late  hour. 

FIRST   WEDDING  IN    CARLINVILLE. 

In  April,  1832,  we  were  invited  to  attend  what  was  the  first  wedding  in 
Carlinville.  Mr.  Wallace,  whose  house  then  stood  facing  what  is  now  North 
Broad  street,  was  about  to  lose  his  fair  and  comely  daughter  Rebecca,  and  to 
see  this  ceremony  a  large  company  of  friends  and  relatives  had  been  invited.  The 
house  was  a  large  one  for  those  times,  as  good  as  any  in  the  place.  Of  course 
it  was  built  of  logs,  one  room  doing  duty  as  kitchen,  dining  room,  parlor,  etc. 
Mrs.  Wallace  always  kept  these  rooms  in  perfect  order,  but  upon  this  particular 
evening  everything  fairly  shone  and  all  had  a  bright,  cheerful  appearance.  One 
thing  that  greatly  added  to  its  pleasantness  was  the  wide  mouthed  fire  place, 
covering  almost  one  end  of  the  house,  the  wood  in  it  being  as  long  as  a  wagon 
could  hold.  The  company  were  all  present  when  \ve  arrived  and  the  bride  and 
groom-to-be  were  awaiting  the  preacher's  coming.  An  expectant  hush  fell  upon 
all  as  he  entered,  and  then  the  young  couple  arose,  the  ceremony  was  performed 
and  Miss  Rebecca  became  Mrs.  David  McDaniel.  The  bride  was  dressed  in 
pure  white,  and  with  her  fair  and  fresh  complexion  looked  the  perfect  picture 
of  health  and  beauty.  Her  granddaughter,  Miss  Addie  Miller,  of  our  city,  very 
much  resembles  her.  I  have  forgotten  how  the  groom  was  dressed  but  know 
that  he  was  a  fine,  noble  looking  young  man,  and  as  they  stood  there  receiving 
the  congratulations  and  good  wishes  of  their  friends  their  future  seemed  quite 
promising.  The  supper  that  followed  was  a  bountiful  one  and  all  present 
seemed  to  enjoy  the  evening.  Like  sensible  people,  they  went  directly  to  house- 
keeping and  until  the  time  of  their  death  were  citizens  of  the  place,  well  known 
and  respected.  The  husband  afterwards  filled  many  offices  of  trust  and  was 
always  highly  respected  and  became  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  in  building  up 
our  city  and  county. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  325 

At  the  time  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  in  the  spring  of  1832,  our  community 
was  startled  by  rumors  that  the  Indians  north  and  west  of  us  were  threatening 
a  raid  into  the  southern  counties.  As  they  had  formerly  roamed  and  hunted 
over  these  prairies,  and  had  (so  alleged)  dug  and  melted  lead  on  the  Macoupin, 
now  ''Sunny  Home  Stock  Farm,"  some  credence  was  given  to  the  report.  Sol- 
diers were  needed  to  drive  them  back  and  the  men  not  readily  volunteering, 
a  draft  was  ordered  for  the  county.  Thirty  or  forty  men  gathered  upon  the 
square  to  take  their  chance,  and  among  the  number  was  Mr.  Plant,  against  whom 
some  of  our  citizens  were  slightly  prejudiced  on  account  of  his  being 'a  "Yankee," 
and  hoped  that  he  would  be  drafted.  Mrs.  Plant  and  a  friend  stood  in  her 
doorway  watching  the  way  things  went,  and  when  it  was  ascertained  that  he 
had  been  drawn,  there  was  such  shouting  among  the  men  as  was  seldom  wit- 
nessed. Mrs.  Plant,  with  a  mortified  air,  said  "I  declare  for  it,  I  won't  stay  in 
such  a  place,  I'll  go  back  to  Connecticut."  And  back  she  went  the  following- 
summer,  her  husband  with  her,  he  having  hired  a  substitute. 

The  men  who  were  drafted  from  Carlinville  joined  a  company  that  was 
passing  through  from  Madison  county.  They  were  a  fine  body  of  men,  being  un- 
uniformed ;  but  then  they  could  fight  the  Indians  and  they  did  it  so  successfully 
that  we  were  never  troubled  by  their  depredations. 

NEW  ARRIVALS. 

It  was  in  those  early  days  that  B.  T.  Burke,  a  Virginian,  made  his  appear- 
ance in  our  midst,  and  his  name  has  ever  since  been  familiar  to  almost  every 
one.  He  was  sheriff  for  twelve  years  and  in  that  time  laid  the  foundation  of 
his  collossal  fortune. 

About  the  same  time  Braxton  Eastham  came  from  Kentucky  and  settled  in 
Carlinville,  living  for  several  years  in  a  house  southeast  of  the  public  square. 
Afterwards  they  removed  to  a  cabin  near  where  they  now  live.  This  cabin 
was  in  later  days  used  for  a  schoolhouse  and  called  "Good  Intent."  Later  it 
was  used  as  a  chicken  house.  Mr.  Eastham  was,  and  is,  a  truly  honest  man, 
ever  faithful  to  any  engagement  he  may  have  undertaken  or  promise  made. 
I  never  knew  him  to  fail.  Finding  the  temptations  of  the  town  too  much  for 
his  strength,  he  finally  decided  that  the  better  way  to  resist  them  was  to  keep 
out  of  the  way  of  temptation.  According  to  the  resolution  then  made  "never 
again  to  enter  the  town,"  he,  although  living  at  its  very  edge,  has  not  (so  far  as 
my  knowledge  extends)  for  over  twenty  years  been  beyond  the  railroad.  His 
hair  is  now  very  white  with  the  winter  of  old  age. 

Another  of  our  white  haired  men  is  Dr.  Robertson,  who  also  came  from 
Kentucky.  It  was  long  ago,  near  about  the  same  time  as  the  other,  that  he 
came,  and  even  then  his  hair  was  heavily  streaked  with  silver.  His  wife  was 
a  sister  of  Mrs.  John  S.  Greithouse,  who  lived  where  T.  L.  Loomis  now  does. 
After  her  death,  he  married  Miss  Nancy  Holliday,  daughter  of  "Father"  Hol- 
liday,  so  well  known  in  the  early  days  of  Carlinville.  He  made  his  fortune  in 
merchandising  and  in  dealing  in  real  estate. 

I  think  it  was  about  the  year  1834  that  Colonel  Anderson,  also  from  Kentucky, 
came  to  the  county,  and  after  entering  several  thousand  acres  of  land  made  his 


326  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

home  four  or  five  miles'  northeast  of  Carlinville.  Some  of  his  children  set- 
tled near  the  old  homestead.  His  son  Crittenden  and  grandson,  W.  E.  P.,  son 
of  Erasmus  Anderson,  are  living  in  Carlinville,  while  Hal  is  settled  upon  a  farm 
near  the  fair  grounds — the  old  Dugger  farm — as  the  place  is  called  where  Uncle 
Jarrett  lived. 

Uncle  Jarrett  assisted  in  organizing  the  first  Sunday  school  in  the  place  and 
afterwards  to  carry  it  on,  filling,  I  believe,  the  office  of  superintendent.  His 
sons,  Joseph,  Wesley  and  Ferguson,  were  old  enough  to  teach  classes,  while  of 
the  other  children  there  were  enough  to  form  a  little  school.  At  least  there 
was  a  beginning  around  which  to  gather  in  the  other  children  of  the  town. 
Jarrett  Dugger  was  a  great  Sunday  school  man  and  his  grandson,  George 
W.  Dugger,  present  superintendent  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Sunday  school, 
is  following  in  his  footsteps. 

FIRST  CHILD  BORN    IN    THE    COUNTY   SEAT. 

The  first  child  born  in  Carlinville  was  Thomas,  son  of  Ezekiel  and  Alice 
Good. 

A  while  before  the  arrival  of  the  writer,  Mrs.  Williamson  Brown  died  at 
the  home  of  Mr.  Good,  of  a  fever,  and  hers  was,  I  believe,  the  first  death  in  the 
place. 

The  people  in  those  early  days  found  it  very  difficult  to  get  their  corn  and 
wheat  ground,  having  to  go  to  adjoining  counties  for  that  purpose.  About  1830 
John  Harris  built  a  water  saw  and  grist  mill  on  the  Macoupin  creek  one  and 
a  half  miles  east  of  town  at  and  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  C.  A.  Walker. 
After  a  few  years,  Mr.  Weatherford  built  an  ox  mill  east  of  town  for  grinding 
corn,  but  it  was  not  at  all  certain  to  be  in  running  order.  As  for  flourishing  mills 
in  the  county,  there  were  none  for  many  years  afterwards,  until,  I  believe,  the 
old  red  mill  was  built  where  W'eer's  now  stands.  There  were  times  in  those 
days  when  the  flour  being  gone  and  the  ox  mill  not  running,  and  it  not  being 
convenient  to  send  the  corn  away,  people  had  to  subsist  for  a  while  on  lye  hom- 
iny, and  that  is  a  thing  at  which  a  person  may  eat  continually  and  never  have 
their  hunger  satisfied. 

The  citizens  of  Carlinville  were  always  respectful  listeners  when  they  had 
respectable  men  to  talk  to  them,  but  sometimes  there  were  curious  cases  that 
called  forth  all  the  latent  mischief  in  their  natures  and  then  they  were  ready 
for  anything.  One  morning  when  Mr.  Otwell  was  working  in  his  garden 
near  the  square,  a  half  witted  looking  man  came  and  asked  him  to  go  with  him 
to  the  court  house  and  help  hold  a  meeting.  He  said  he  had  been  holding  meet- 
ings in  a  certain  place  he  mentioned  and  had  a  "  Vival  of  'ligion"  there.  Mr. 
Otwell  told  the  man  he  was  hurried  and  could  not  go,  so  the  fellow  went  away 
and  held  the  meeting  himself,  having  the  wild  fellows  for  his  hearers.  When 
he  got  through  with  his  talk  they  asked  if  he  had  a  license  to  preach.  When  he 
could  not  show  one,  they  told  him  he  had  broken  the  law  and  they  should  try 
his  case.  Organizing  themselves  into  a  court  they  tried  and  sentenced  him  to 
death — hanging.  He  threw  himself  upon  his  knees,  crying,  "O !  for  the  Lord's 
sake  let  me  go  home  to  my  wife  and  children."  He  wept  and  wrung  his  hands 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  827 

but  they  were  obdurate  and  told  him  he  would  "pull  hemp"  in  less  than  an  hour. 
When  all  hope  seemed  gone,  the  men,  but  one  (according  to  agreement)  looked 
another  way  and  he  whispered  "run  for  your  life."  And  he  did  run  if  ever  any 
one  did.  Soon  the  court  seeming  to  discover  his  absence,  came  pouring  out  of 
the  house  and  raised  a  terrific  yell.  They  put  a  boy  upon  horseback  with  an 
unloaded  gun  over  his  shoulder  to  pursue  him,  but  of  course  he  was  never 
overtaken. 

FIRST   TF.MPERANCE    MEETING. 

It  was  some  time  before  this  that  the  first  temperance  meeting  had  been  held 
at  Mr.  Good's.  That  meeting  was  the  "day  of  small  things"  compared  with  the 
recent  great  movement.  Those  meetings,  the  Sons  of  Temperance,  the  Good 
Templars  and  other  kindred  societies  since  then  were  but  as  the  clearing  away 
of  underbrush,  the  cutting  away  of  larger  trees,  preparing,  digging  deep  for  the 
foundation  of  our  temperance  building. 

For  years  Carlinville  was  without  any  church  building,  each  society  being 
too  poor  to  erect  one.  The  first  addition  to  the  Methodist  society  was  about  the 
year  1834,  when  Jarrett  Dugger  and  his  large  family  moved  to  this  place  and 
decided  to  build  a  church  and  the  little  company  built  the  frame  house  where 
bought  a  farm  of  A.  Pepperdine  (now  Hal  Anderson's  farm).  Soon  after,  it  was 
John  Keeler  now  lives.  It  seemed  very  good  to  have  a  house  to  worship  in  after 
having  so  much  trouble.  Not  long  after,  the  hearts  of  the  little  company  were 
made  glad  by  the  arrival  among  them  of  Dr.  John  Logan,  who  for  over  forty 
years  has  been  a  true  and  faithful  member.  Afterward  many  were  converted 
and  added  to  the  church  but  of  the  original  five  members  all  are  long  since  gone 
to  the  good  world  but  one,  who  still  lingers  on  the  shores  of  time,  patiently  wait- 
ing the  Master's  call. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 
"JERSEY  STREET." 

INTERESTING   SECTION    OF    THE   COUNTY FROM    ROCKBRIDGE    TO    PIASA   CREEK LY- 

MAN  L.  PALMER  WRITES  WITH  A  FACILE  PEN  OF  EARLY  DAYS  AND  THEIR  PEOPLE 

SWEET  SINGERS  OF  MEDORA OLD  TOBE BILL  DAVIS'  OX  TEAM fHE  VILLAGE 

DOMINIE THE   VILLAGE    PLOW    MAKER A    HARD    NUT   TO    CRACK. 

In  1909,  early  in  the  spring,  there  began  to  appear  in  the  Medora  Mes- 
senger, a  series  of  reminiscent  articles  from  the  facile  pen  of  Lyman  Palmer, 
that  at  once  attracted  the  interested  notice  of  the  local  readers  of  that  excel- 
lent sheet  and  its  exchanges  throughout  the  county.  Being  a  man  of  large 
mental  calibre,  broad  experience  and  superior  journalistic  training,  coupled  to 
a  retentive  and  reliable  memory,  these  pen  pictures  of  Mr.  Palmer  lent  such  a 
charm  to  his  narratives  and  so  clear  an  atmosphere  of  historic  truth  as  to  make 
for  each  article  a  value  and  importance  all  its  own.  Eventually,  they  came 
under  the  notice  of  the  present  historian  and  at  a  glance  their  value  to  the  work 
in  hand  by  him  was  apparent  and  quickly  recognized.  Hence,  a  condensation 
of  Lyman  Palmer's  recollections  of  the  early  history  and  peoples  of  Chesterfield 
township  and  vicinity  is  here  produced,  with  only  one  regret — that  the  manu- 
script could  not  have  been  published  in  full  in  these  pages. 

A  word  or  two  as  to  Lyman  Palmer :  He  tells  us  he  was  the  firstborn  of 
Luther  Bateman  Palmer  and  Louisa  A.  Brainard,  daughter  of  Samuel  D.  Brain- 
ard,  and  that  his  parents  were  married  in  1847  by  Rev.  Elihu  Palmer,  brother 
of  General  John  M.  Palmer,  but  of  no  immediate  relation  to  Luther.  That 
he  grew  to  manhood  in  the  vicinity  of  Medora  and  "stuck  type"  on  the  Carlin- 
ville  Democrat.  Moved  to  California,  where  he  taught  school  and  was  con- 
nected with  San  Francisco  papers.  Returned  to  Macoupin  county,  then  took 
up  his  residence  in  Chicago  and,  in  1911,  finally  settled  in  Florida. 

The  initial  article  starts  with  the  following: 

FOREWORD. 

This  series  of  sketches  is  not  intended  to  be  history  in  any  true  sense  of  the 
word  but  simply  personal  reminiscences  of  days  long  since  gone  by  and  of 
people  most  of  whom  have  "joined  that  innumerable  throng"  in  "that  bourne 
whence  no  traveler  hath  yet  returned."  It  is  true  that  much  which  is  of  histor- 

328 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  329 

ical  nature  and  interest  will,  perforce,  creep  into  these  sketches,  and  because 
of  that  fact  it  is  hoped  that  possibly  they  may  prove  of  sufficient  value  to  be 
preserved  by  many  in  scrap  bock  form  at  least. 

The  places  which  knew  our  pioneer  ancestry  can  know  them  no  more  for- 
ever, and  it  is  also  true  that  the  people  who  knew  them  are  becoming  fewer 
and  fewer  in  number,  and  very  soon  "taps"  will  sound  for  the  last  one,  hence  it 
behooves  some  one  who  stands  as  a  bridge,  as  it  were,  between  the  pioneers  of 
"lang  syne"  and  the  whirling  mazes  of  the  living  present,  to  gather  together 
the  threads  of  romance  and  tragedy,  the  prose  and  poetry  of  those  early  days 
and  denizens,  and  weave  it  all  into  a  tapestry  of  beautiful  design. 

As  far  as  I  am  able,  that  is  what  I  hope  to  do  in  these  sketches.  On  the 
stage  of  life,  as  on  the  mimic  stage,  there  is  always  the  hero  that  I  shall  call 
forth  to  play  the  parts  in  the  life  dramas  which  I  shall  depict.  It  is  true  that 
some  clouds  flitted  across  the  social  skies  in  those  days  just  as  they  do  now. 
Some  failed  of  reaching  the  high  mark  of  perfect  living  in  the  '505  just  as  they 
are  now  doing  in  the  early  days  of  the  new  century.  But  of  none  of  these 
shall  I  speak.  The  mantle  of  charity  shall  be  drawn  over  it  all  and  truly  "the 
dead  past  shall  bury  its  dead."  "With  malice  toward  none  and  charity  for  all" 
is  this  work,  which  is  really  a  labor  of  love,  begun,  and  so  it  will  be  prosecuted 
to  the  end. 

It  is  more  than  probable  that  inaccuracies  will  creep  into  these  sketches  as 
I  am  writing  entirely  from  memory,  and  am  not  so  situated  that  I  can  even  refer 
to  an  old  timer  either  for  the  purpose  of  refreshing  my  memory  or  verifying 
my  statements.  Therefore  I  trust  that  the  readers  of  the  Messenger  will  be 
charitable  towards  me  for  it  is  truly  "a  far  cry"  from  the  days  of  which  I  am 
to  write,  some  fifty  years  ago,  to  the  present  time.  My  life  has  been  divided 
into  three  eras,  each  superimposed  upon  the  other  like  great  geological  stratas. 
They  are  ( i ) .  The  years  of  which  I  am  to  write  coming  up  to  my  departure  for 
California  in  1873.  (2).  My  life  in  California  extending  to  1890.  (3).  My 
iife  in  Chicago  to  the  present.  Hence  it  is  that  I  am  compelled  to  look  far  down 
the  vista  of  time  and  view  the  things  of  which  I  am  to  write  across  the  ever 
widening  chasm  of  years  which  lie  between  the  then  and  the  now. 

It  may  seem  at  times  that  I  am  showing  a  little  partiality  in  that  I  shall 
write  more  fully  or  make  more  frequent  mention  of  some  than  of  others.  I  want 
to. say  at  the  outset  that  I  shall  endeavor  to  treat  all  with  perfect  fairness,  and 
if  I  mention  some  more  frequently  than  others  or  give  more  full  sketches  of 
some  than  others  it  will  simply  be  because  of  my  closer  personal  relations  with 
the  one  so  mentioned. 

I  have  one  request  to  make  and  that  is,  should  I  make  any  misstatements  I 
trust  that  some  one,  in  a  spirit  of  good  fellowship  and  love,  and  for  the  sake  of 
truth,  may  correct  the  same  by  a  short  letter  to  the  editor.  I  do  not  want  any 
errors  to  go  down  into  time  unchallenged  and  uncorrected,  and  now  is  as  good 
an  opportunity  as  we  will  all  have  to  get  things  right  once  for  all. 

IN    THE    BEGINNING. 

As  the  veil  of  years  is  drawn  down  closer  and  ever  closer  the  past  becomes 
more  and  yet  more  dim  and  misty  until  the  commonplace  events  are  lost  to 


330  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

view  entirely,  and  the  greater  ones  are  wrapped  about  with  a  haze  of  mystery 
and  romance.  As  vessels  which  meet  in  mid-ocean  and  then  drift  farther  and 
farther  apart  until,  at  the  close  of  day,  the  sheen  of  the  crimson  light  of  the 
setting  sun  gilds  into  a  blaze  of  glory  only  the  top  gallants  of  the  stately  masts, 
so  it  is  with  the  events  and  the  people  of  whom  I  am  to  write.  They  have 
drifted  on  and  still  further  on  and  out  upon  the  limitless  sea  of  the  past  till  now 
only  a  halo  of  loving  remembrance  enwraps  them. 

If  this  were  real  history  I  would  search  the  records,  look  into  the  archives, 
and  consult  with  the  oldest  residents  now  living  and  thus  be  able  to  give  a  de- 
tailed list  of  the  names  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Palmer's  Prairie,  Rhoads' 
Point  and  Delaware  and  also  the  exact  date  of  their  arrival,  whence  they  came, 
etc.  Should  these  sketches  stir  to  action  some  one  who  is  in  a  position  to  do  this 
"history  act"  for  the  Messenger  in  proper  manner  then  will  they  not  have  been 
written  in  vain. 

EARLY  SETTLERS. 

That  whole  section  of  country  from  Piasa  to  Rockbridge,  and  from  Kemper 
to  the  Blackburn  bridge  was  as  fully  settled  as  far  back  as  I  can  remember  as 
it  is  today,  or  nearly  so.  Some  of  the  old  homes  and  homesteads  have  disap- 
peared but  those  which  are  of  more  recent  date  will  not  much  more  than  offset 

I  shall  mention  some  who  were  gone  even  before  my  time.  I  do  not  know 
who  the  first  settler  in  that  section  was,  but  among  the  very  earliest  pioneers  may 
be  named  the  Rhoads,  Easthams,  Loves,  Chiltons,  Carsons,  Chisms,  Fitzjarrels, 
Twitchels  and  Palmers.  My  own  immediate  ancestry  comprising  my  grand- 
father, Daniel  Palmer,  and  a  large  family  of  sons  and  daughters,  arrived  at 
Delaware  in  October,  1843.  They  came  overland  from  Knox  county,  Ohio, 
and  were  originally  from  Vermont.  They  had  been  preceded  by  my  grand- 
father's brothers,  William  and  Elias,  and  their  families. 

"JERSEY  STREET"  IN  1842. 

,1  am  just  in  receipt  of  a  letter  from  my  father,  Luther  B.  Palmer,  in  which 
he  says:  "I  will  give  you  Jersey  street  as  it  was  in  1842.  (By  "Jersey  street" 
he  means  that  section  of  the  country  lying  between  Rockbridge  on  the  north  and 
Piasa  creek  on  the  south  and  along  the  road  through  that  section.)  I  will  com- 
mence at  Rockbridge.  A  man  by  the  name  of  Barnett  owned  the  mill  then. 
The  rock  bridge  was  there,  from  which  the  place  took  its  name.  William  Palmer 
had  built  it  and  it  was  a  good  bridge.  The  first  house  as  you  went  south  was 
that  of  Daniel  Fitzgerald,  the  Baptist  preacher.  The  next  was  Henry  Saun- 
der's,  then  Benjamin  Saunder's  and  then  the  widow  Twitchell.  Then  Elias 
Palmer  and  next  came  Leonard  Brown,  and  then  William  Palmer.  Next  came 
the  home-made  schoolhouse,  built  of  logs  with  puncheon  floor  and  seats. 

"I  now  come  to  the  town  of  Delaware,  the  present  site  of  Kemper.  First 
was  a  log  house,  then  came  the  frame  house  which  a  man  by  the  name  of  Smith 
had  put  up,  but  just  then  the  Mormons  came  along  and  he  joined  them  and  never 
finished  his  house.  Next  came  Elfrith  Johnson.  Then  there  were  improve- 
ments and  a  house  which  they  called  the  Swallow  place  and  then  came  the  Cov- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  331 

entry  place.  Over  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  were  the  homes  of  William 
Tompkins,  E.  Barnes  and  the  Goacher  place.  Then  following  along  up  the  edge 
of  the  brush  there  were  the  homes  of  James  Rhoads,  Benjamin  Cleaver,  who  was 
then  justice  of  the  peace,  and  Josiah  Rhoads.  That  was  all  there  was  of  that 
immediate  settlement. 

"Going  on  farther  south  through  the  brush  we  come  to  Elder  Mound,  a  very 
fine  tract  of  land  upon  which  the  town  of  Fidelity  was  afterwards  located. 
John  Sullivan  was  the  first  settler  and  he  was  a  blacksmith.  South  of  that  was 
the  Simmons  prairie,  which  was  a  fine  belt  of  land.  The  Rhine  people  were  liv- 
ing somewhere  on  west  of  the  road,  and  Samuel  Rich  was  living  up  near  Fidelity." 

I  will  add  to  the  above  a  note  stating  that  Orville  Hayward  spent  a  summer 
some  twenty-five  years  ago  up  in  the  foothills  of  California  back  of  Stockton, 
and  while  there  met  John  Sullivan,  who  then  had  a  fine  stock  ranch  up  there  in 
the  mountains.  He  told  Orville  all  about  the  old  days  at  Fidelity  and  how  he 
used  to  have  to  get  up  before  daylight  to  sharpen  the  plows  for  the  settlers  in 
Palmer's  prairie.  According  to  his  story  they  were  a  hustling  lot  in  those  early 
pioneer  days. 

A  BIRD'S  EYE  VIEW. 

In  these  sketches  I  shall  write  from  the  view  point  of  my  old  home,  lately 
the  residence  of  Gilbert  Palmer,  some  two  miles  north  of  Medora.  The  time 
of  this  bird's  eye  view  of  the  neighborhood  is  1860. 

Beginning  at  the  southeast  corner  of  the  neighborhood  some  mile  and  a  half 
southeast  of  Summerville,  there  stood  in  those  days  the  home  of  James  Carson. 
Farther  east  toward  Cook's  creek,  somewhere  in  the  woods,  lived  the  Cooks  and 
Burns,  though  just  where  I  am  unable  to  say  as  I  was  never  at  the  home  of 
either.  To  the  northward  was  the  home  of  Harvey  Carson,  and  still  farther 
north  the  home  of  Thomas  Carson.  Turning  eastward  in  the  road  running  east 
from  Summerville  we  come  first  to  the  home  of  William  Searles,  and  somewhere 
beyond  him  down  in  the  woods  lived  a  German  by  the  name  of  William  Bramen- 
kamp.  North  of  William  Searles  lived  Allen  Searles,  and  probably  the  Parker 
family,  at  least  Silas  Parker  always  came  to  school  with  the  Searles  boys.  Then 
right  in  there  somewhere  lived  "Raash"  Burns  and  family  and  also  families  by 
the  name  of  Howorton,  Swafford  and  Hudspeth.  Just  where  any  of  them  lived 
I  never  knew. 

Then  still  farther  north  was  the  old  Dr.  Blackburn  place,  and  away  on  to 
the  northward  was  the  old  Cove  Spring,  about  which  in  those  early  days  before 
I  can  remember,  there  must  have  been  quite  a  settlement,  as  the  present  Pres- 
byterian church  at  Summerville  had  its  initiative  among  the  people  in  that 
vicinity.  Possibly  its  official  name  is  yet  the  Spring  Cove  Presbyterian  church. 
It  was  in  my  day. 

Coming  westward,  and  back  south  on  the  road  from  Piasa  to  Summerville, 
away  down  in  the  ravine  about  midway  between  the  two  towns  was  the  cabin 
occupied  by  the  Overton  brothers.  Then  north  of  them  and  some  west  of  the 
road  was  the  home  of  Benjamin  Rhoads.  Then  still  farther  north  and  about 
at  the  point  where  the  present  road  east  from  Medora  intersects  that  road,  lived 
a  brother-in-law  of  William  Rhoads.  but  the  name  is  just  a  mist  to  me.  Pos- 


332  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

sibly  it  was  Caywood,  as  a  young  woman  by  that  name  once  attended  school  and 
came  from  out  that  way.  Just  north  of  that  on  a  little  hill  on  the  west  side 
of  the  road  lived  Elder  Jacob  Rhoads,  and  still  farther  north  of  him  was  the 
home  of  William  Rhoads,  and  eastward  on  the  road  to  James  Carson's  was  the 
home  of  Edward  Brewer. 

Then  on  farther  north  came  the  village  of  Summerville.  Its  first  house  was 
erected  on  the  site  of  the  present  residence  of  Silas  Parker  (the  southwest 
corner)  by  Lester  Hoisington.  Approaching  the  village  from  the  south  as  far 
back  as  I  can  remember  one  came  first,  on  the  west  side  of  the  road,  to  the 
home  of  George  Loper,  and  then,  on  the  corner  above  referred  to,  was  the  home 
of  Mr.  Kenworthy.  On  the  east  side  of  the  road  were  the  homes  of  John  Simp- 
son, Stroud  Keller,  "Boss"  Wheat,  his  blacksmith  shop,  the  residence  of  John 
F.  Roach,  and  lately  the  store.  There  might  have  been  another  house  near  Kel- 
ler's but  I  do  not  seem  to  be  able  to  locate  it  or  to  recall  any  one  who  ever  lived 
in  it. 

Turning  eastward,  the  first  house  on  the  south  side  of  the  street  was  Gideon 
Carson's,  then  came  Enoch  Keele's  place,  then  the  home  of  David  Hartwell,  and 
then  the  Presbyterian  church.  Across  the  street  north  of  the  store  was  the  home 
and  hall  of  Edward  Corey,  then  east  of  him  was  the  place  now  occupied  by  Mar- 
tin Haynes.  I  do  not  know  who  lived  in  it  in  the  olden  days,  but  Leonard  Tra- 
bue  occupied  it  during  the  war.  East  of  that  there  was  nothing  but  Searles' 
cornfield  in  those  days.  At  that  time  there  was  a  road  leading  north  just  east 
of  the  Trabue  place  which  led  to  Blackburn  bridge.  Taking  that  road  north 
from  Summerville  one  came  first  to  the  home  of  John  Haynes,  and  just  to  the 
west  of  that,  and  back  in  the  field  was  the  home  of  Elias  Haynes.  Going  on 
eastward  one  came  next  to  the  home  of  "Pit"  Burns,  and  farther  on  to  the  right 
out  toward  the  Searles  place  lived  Lewis  Haynes.  To  the  north  of  this  road  and 
some  distance  back  were  two  or  three  houses  but  I  cannot  recall  who  lived  in 
them.  Later  on  one  of  them  was  known  as  the  Chris  Morris  place  and  possibly 
Philip  Odell,  the  Gleasons,  and  the  Wiltons  lived  in  the  other  later  on. 

Coming  back  to  the  store  in  Summerville  again  and  starting  west  we  come  at 
once,  on  the  northwest  corner,  to  a  store  building  erected  by  John  Farrow,  and 
next  to  it  westerly  was  his  residence,  later  known  as  the  Joseph  Haynes  place. 
Then  next  came  the  Albert  Eastham  place,  and  then,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
road,  the  Baptist  church  and  schoolhouse.  Crossing  the  branch  and  the  road 
we  come  to  the  home  of  Lewis  Love.  On  the  south  side  of  the  road  and  some 
farther  west  lived  a  man  way  back  there  by  the  name  of  Runion  Willet. 

Going  back  to  the  Baptist  church  and  taking  the  road  northward  toward 
Harmony  schoolhouse  the  first  place  we  come  to  is  the  old  Albert  Eastham 
farm  house.  At  the  time  of  my  earliest  recollection  Thomas  Derr  lived  there 
and  later  on  Andrew  Farrow  and  James  Eggleson.  The  Easthams  had  a  shin- 
gle mill  there. 

Passing  on  farther  north  there  stood  a  house  back  from  the  road  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  east,  in  which  lived  William  Lee,  and  a  little  later,  John  Derr.  Across 
the  road  and  a  little  farther  to  the  north  lived  George  Palmer  on  the  site  of  his 
present  farm  house.  Going  still  farther  north,  and  on  the  west  side  of  the  road 
was  a  house  probably  built  by  Thomas  Derr  and  occupied  by  him  long  before 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  333 

my  day.  As  far  back  as  I  can  remember  the  Shadrach  brothers  lived  there. 
Across  the  road  and  to  the  east  stood  a  carpenter  shop  and  George  Garret  was  in 
charge  of  it  when  I  was 'a  wee  lad  going  to  my  first  school.  Down  a  little  lane 
some  distance  east  was  the  home  of  Cyrus  Hayward.  A  short  distance  north  of 
the  carpenter  shop  was  the  home  of  Ansel  Hayward,  and  still  a  little  farther 
north  was  the  old  Harmony  schoolhouse.  North  of  that,  as  now  the  road  ended 
in  an  east  and  west  road,  and  some  distance  north  of  that  junction,  out  in  the 
field,  long  before  my  day,  was  the  home  of  the  Thurstons. 

Taking  the  road  eastward,  back  in  the  field  on  the  north  side,  was  the  home 
of  James  Hartwell.  Farther  east  and  on  the  south  side  of  the  road,  lived  Robert 
Carter,  Sr.  Farther  east,  and  at  the  bend  in  the  road,  where  Horace  Warner 
now  resides,  lived  George  Jenks,  and  still  on  north  of  that  was  the  home  of 
Charles  Goodsell.  Thence  the  road  ran  on  down  through  the  bottom,  much  as 
the  railroad  does  now  to  Loper's  ford.  On  the  top  of  a  ridge  there  was  a  house, 
but  George  Newberry  is  the  only  occupant  of  it  that  I  recall.  East  of  Jenks'  and 
on  the  top  of  the  mound  was  the  Challacombe  homestead. 

Passing  again  westward  to  the  road  leading  from  Brighton  to  Rockbridge, 
and  beginning  a  couple  of  miles  south  of  Rhoads  Point,  we  come  to  the  home 
6f  Charles  Wales  and  sons,  William  and  Edward.  Thence  going  north,  back  in 
the  field  to  the  east,  was  the  residence  of  John  L.  Rhoads.  Across  the  road  and 
farther  north  at  the  corner  of  the  Fidelity  road  lived  William  Bowker.  Proceed- 
ing northward,  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  was  the  home  of  Thomas  Rice,  and 
west  of  that,  back  in  the  fields,  was  the  home  of  the  Artmans.  Across  the  road 
from  Rice's  and  farther  north  on  the  top  of  the  hill  there  was  a  log  house  but 
I  have  no  remembrance  of  any  one  living  in  it.  Across  the  road  and  just  north 
Thomas  Payne  had  built  a  house  I  think  as  early  as  1860,  at  least  it  was  there 
during  the  war.  As  far  back  as  I  can  remember  there  was  a  little  cabin  in  among 
the  trees  right  about  where  the  former  school  building  stood,  which  was  occupied 
by  a  family  by  the  name  of  Bell.  Farther  to  the  northwest  stood  another  log 
house  occupied  by  George  Blackburn  and  family.  North  of  that  some  distance, 
and  a  little  nearer  the  road,  stood  another  log  cabin.  It  was  not  straight  with  the 
compass,  and  I  can  see  it  now  basking  in  the  sun,  but  I  am  unable  to  link  up 
any  family  in  connection  with  it.  I  know  some  one  lived  there  for  I  can  see 
the  children  playing  about  the  yard  as  I  think  of  it.  Close  by  this,  on  the  west 
side  of  the  road  and  just  to  the  north  stood  "Old  Tobe's"  "department  store." 
Then  farther  north  and  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  stood  the  original  Mt. 
Pleasant  Baptist  church.  Next  to  that  on  the  north  was  the  home  of  the  Perrys. 
Adjacent  to  it  and  a  part  of  the  building  was  a  harness  shop,  and  just  north 
of  that  was  a  wagonmaker's  and  a  blacksmith  shop  combined  in  one  long  build- 
ing, and  as  I  remember,  both  conducted  by  the  Perrys,  though  about  1860  a  man 
by  the  name  of  Coonrod  came  to  the  "Point"  and  did  wagon  making.  Still 
farther  north  and  across  the  little  branch  was  the  old  house  of  "Doc"  (Frank- 
lin B.)  Simpson,  and  across  the  road  to  the  east,  and  across  the  present  rail- 
road right  of  way  stood  a  small  house  occupied  by  the  Calverd  family.  Farther 
north  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  and  back  in  the  field  was  the  home  of 
George  Eastham,  and  way  down  in  the  woods  to  the  west  of  that  was  a  little 
cabin  occupied  by  Dr.  Nathaniel  Jayne. 


334  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Then  came  the  "Cross  Roads,"  a  very  prominent  land  mark  in  those  days, 
and  half  a  mile  west,  on  the  load  leading  to  Hawkins  prairie,  was  the  home  of 
Elder  Hezekiah  Chilton.  To  the  north  of  him  and  across  the  road  lived  Elder 
Albert  Farrow.  Coming  back  to  the  cross  roads  and  proceeding  northward,  on 
the  west  side  of  the  road,  was  the  home  of  John  Chism,  Sr.  Across  the  road, 
and  away  back  in  the  field  east,  long  before  my  day,  "Grandpa"  Eastham  had 
a  home.  It  was  probably  one  of  the  oldest  settled  places  in  that  whole  section. 
Still  farther  north  and  on  the  east  side  of  the  road  stood  a  little  cabin  in  which 
Daniel  Palmer  had  his  first  home,  and  where  Solomon  Palmer  lived  in  1859. 
Half  a  mile  west  of  that  and  way  back  in  the  field  stood  the  one  time  home  of 
"Ed"  Rhoads.  Coming  back  to  the  main  road  and  going  on  across  the  "big" 
bridge,  up  on  the  hill  to  the  east  of  the  road,  was  the  home  of  Luther  B.  Palmer, 
the  house  in  which  the  writer  was  born. 


REMEMBRANCES  OF      FIRST  COMERS. 

In  those  early  days  came  people  from  sunny  southland, — the  Easthams,  the 
Rices,  the  Loves,  Chiltons,  and  others.  Also  people  from  the  rock-ribbed  New 
England  coast,  the  Haywards,  Hartwells,  Palmers,  and  others.  Among  those 
who  arrived  in  the  neighborhood  were  the  Hartwells,  Davids  and  James.  As 
far  back  as  I  can  remember,  David  Hartwell  lived  on  the  south  side  of  the 
street  in  Summerville,  just  east  of  Keele's  place.  As  I  recall,  David  Hartwell 
was  a  sturdy  Puritan,  a  man  with  ways  and  ideas  of  his  own,  and  with  a  strong 
determination  to  live  out  his  life  in  his  own  way.  I  do  not  recall  Mrs.  Hart- 
well  at  all.  The  eldest  daughter,  Harriet,  married  "Alf"  Ketchum,  way  back 
in  the  early  '505.  There  was  a  boy,  a  splendid  fellow,  Samuel,  and  a  younger 
girl,  Maria. 

James  Hartwell  and  family  settled  on  the  tract  of  land  northeast  of  Har- 
mony schoolhouse.  He  died  before  the  war.  I  recall  that  he  was  held  in  the 
very  highest  esteem  by  his  neighbors  and  considered  as  the  very  soul  of  honor. 
About  this  time  also  died  Anson  Hayward.  The  widow  of  James  Hartwell 
married  Lewis  Loomis,  father  of  Medora's  druggist,  Thad  A.  Loomis.  Her 
eldest  boy  was  Arthur,  who  enlisted  with  many  other  young  men  of  the  neigh- 
borhood, in  Company  F,  Twelfth  Illinois  Cavalry  and  served  throughout  the 
Civil  war.  After  the  war  he  married  Mary  Challacombe  and  settled  down  on 
the  old  homestead.  He  had  a  brother,  Justin,  and  three  sisters,  Mary,  Corinna 
and  Rosa. 

Joseph  and  John  Haynes,  brothers,  emigrated  to  this  locality  from  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  about  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  Joseph  moved  into  Summerville 
from  his  farm,  which  was  afterward  occupied  by  Elias  Haynes,  and  was  just 
north  of  Summerville.  Joseph  bought  the  John  Farrow  place,  on  the  site  of  the 
present  Haynes  homestead.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  Haynes,  died  in  March,  1868. 
Elias,  the  eldest  son,  married  a  sister  of  Peter  Muntz,  a  man  who  was  well 
known  in  the  community  after  the  war.  After  the  war,  Elias  and  Jake  Shoe- 
make  conducted  a  blacksmith  shop  on  the  north  side  of  the  street  between  the 
Corey  house  and  where  Martin  Haynes  now  lives. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  335 

About  1870  the  family  moved  to  Minnesota  and  that  was  the  last  I  ever  saw 
of  any  of  them.  There  were  five  other  sons  of  Joseph  Haynes:  Lewis;  Martin, 
who  married  Phoebe  Loper;  Moses,  who  was  a  member  of  the  Twelfth  Illinois 
Cavalry,  Company  F;  Aaron  and  John.  There  were  two  girls,  Sarah  and  Bar- 
bara. Sarah  married  Haines  Rhoads,  from  over  Waggoner's  Prairie  way 
Barbara  became  the  wife  of  Albert  Young  and  took  up  her  home  in  Medora. 

John  Haynes  and  family  always  lived  about  a  half  mile  east  of  Elias'  place, 
on  the  road  from  Summerville  to  Blackburn  bridge.  John  was  a  typical  pion- 
eer, a  giant  in  stature.  Abner,  one  of  the  boys,  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Twelfth 
Illinois  Cavalry.  Some  time  after  the  war,  he  married  Louisa  Coonrod,  who 
lost  her  life  in  a  cyclone  that  visited  the  neighborhood  some  time  afterward. 
The  other  boy's  name  was  Michael.  Mary  and  Nancy  were  the  daughters  of 
the  household.  Mary  married  William  Chism. 

I  stated  in  a  recent  article  that  I  was  under  the  impression  that  John  Farrow 
was  interested  with  John  Rhoads  in  the  store  which  was  in  the  old  Sons  of  Tem- 
perance hall  building  in  Summerville.  I  am  not  sure  of  my  ground  in  that 
statement  but  I  do  know  that  later  on  he  erected  a  building  on  the  corner  diag- 
onally across  from  the  Sons  of  Temperance  building  and  that  he  conducted  a 
store  in  it  for  some  time.  I  do  not  know  in  what  year  he  and  his  family  left 
Summerville  but  it  was  some  time  before  the  war.  When  I  was  a  bit  of  a  lad 
there  was  a  Dr.  Bunn  who  had  his  office  in  the  Farrow  residence,  which,  by  the 
way,  was  located  on  the  present  site  of  the  Haynes  property. 

LIVED  IN  A  BEAUTIFUL   HICKORY   GROVE. 

Across  the  road  to  the  north  of  Eldred  Chilton's,  west  of  the  cross  roads 
and  back  in  the  heart  of  a  most  beautiful  hickory  grove,  lived  Elder  Albert 
Farrow.  I  remember  him  very  distinctly.  He  was  spare  built  and  active,  and 
as  a  preacher  he. had  but  few  equals  in  that  section  of  the  country.  There  was 
one  peculiarity  about  him  that  I  never  met  with  in  any  other  man.  He  would  be- 
gin his  talk  in  measured  tones  and  deliberate  enunciation,  but  as  he  got  into  his 
subject  his  tongue  would  fly  faster  and  faster  and  the  pitch  of  his  voice  would 
keep  the  ascendent  until  in  rapid  and  evermore  rapid  spirals  he  would  reach 
the  climax,  when,  just  as  one  would  expect  a  triumphant  shout  of  exultation  and 
victory  won,  he  would,  in  a  word,  drop  his  voice  to  "double  bass  G"  and  enun- 
ciate the  climax.  The  effect  of  this  sort  of  vocal  gymnastics  was  startling  at 
times,  for  this  was  done  over  and  over  in  the  course  of  a  long  sermon.  But  he 
was  both  a  good  man  and  a  good  preacher  and  so  he  left  a  lasting  impress 
upon  the  community. 

GALLOWAY  AND  ANDREW  FARROW. 

Galloway  Farrow  lived  farther  west,  possibly  in  Hawkins  prairie.  I  do  not 
know  where  Andrew  Farrow  lived  most  of  the  time  but  at  one  time  the  family 
lived  at  the  old  Eastham  place,  just  north  of  Summerville.  I  cannot  remember 
much  back  of  the  time  that  "Dutch"  (Leonard)  and  "Dutch"  (Fred)  Trabue 
did  not  work  for  my  father  on  the  farm.  Fred  was  a  big,  jovial,  typical  Ger- 


336  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

man,  whom  we  all  liked  the  best  in  the  world.  Leonard  remained  with  us  for 
several  years,  off  and  on,  and  finally  married  a  Miss  Swafford.  They  were 
living  where  Martin  Haynes  now  lives  during  the  war,  and  at  the  time  the 
Crowder  store  was  robbed.  West  of  the  Love  place  and  on  the  south  side  of  the 
road  lived  Runion  Willet.  , 

THE  DERRS. 

Among  the  earliest  pioneer  families  to  settle  on  the  east  side  of  the  prairie 
and  on  the  road  north  from  Summerville,  was  that  of  Thomas  Derr.  He  had 
settled  on  the  place  across  the  road  west  from  the  Cyrus  Hayward  farm,  while 
his  son  John  was  yet  a  young  man.  When  I  knew  the' family  they  were  resid- 
ing at  the  old  Eastham  farm  north  of  Summerville.  Mrs.  Derr  was  a  very  kindly 
woman  and  the  mother  of  a  large  family  of  children.  The  oldest  son  was  John, 
to  whom  I  became  greatly  attached  as  a  teacher.  He  married  Susan,  daughter 
of  Albert  Eastham,  and  lived  in  the  field  east  of  George  Palmer's  old  home 
when  I  knew  them.  There  were  two  other  boys,  William  and  Horace.  The  five 
daughters  answered  to  the  names  of  Jane,  Irene,  Nellie,  Alice  and  Dora.  Jane 
married  Wilson  Silsby. 

THE   HAYWARDS. 

I  do  not  know  that  it  is  so  but  I  have  always  been  under  the  impression  that 
the  Hartwell  and  Hayward  families  came  from  the  same  section  of  the  east 
and  were  probably  friends  and  neighbors  there.  At  any  rate,  the  Haywards 
were  of  the  same  sturdy,  thrifty,  New  England  stock.  The  family,  as  I  recall 
far  back  into  the  '$os,  comprised  "Grandpa"  Hayward  and  his  four  sons,  Cyrus, 
Ansel,  Daniel  and  William.  The  next  place  north  of  George  Palmer's  old  home 
farm  and  down  a  "little  lane  to  the  east,  was  the  home  of  Cyrus  Hayward,  from 
the  days  of  my  earliest  recollection.  He  was  one  of  the  men  whom  my  father 
held  in  highest  esteem,  for  he  was  something  of  a  radical  himself,  hence,  it  was, 
that  in  early  life  I  came  to  hold  the  man  in  high  regard  also.  In  those  early  days 
the  Jacksonian  movement  at  Danville,  New  York,  then  simply  called  the  "water 
cure,"  but  later  on  classified  among  the  remedial  methods  of  the  age  as  hydro- 
pathy, was  just  coming  into  prominence.  Cyrus  Hayward  was  perhaps  the  first 
one  in  the  community  to  fall  in  with  the  teaching  and  began  to  practice  its 
methods.  Some  people  laughed  at  him,  but  that  did  not  deter  him  one  moment, 
nor  shake  his  faith  in  it.  "Packs"  for  colds  and  "packs"  for  fevers,  and  "com- 
presses" for  ills  and  ailments  without  number  and  no  pork  eating,  and  "graham 
flour"  and  "brown  bread"  and  all  the  other  "fads"  as  the  neighbors  called  them, 
which  were  in  vogue  in  the  "home  on  the  hillside"  at  Danville  were  indulged  in. 
But  nothing  moved  the  iron  will  of  this  convert  and  time  has  proved  that  he  was 
right  and  the  things  that  were  then  called  "fads"  have  long  since  become  the 
fashion.  There  is  now  scarcely  a  home  in  the  land  where  graham  bread  is  not 
a  favorite  diet  and  eaten  because  of  its  health  giving  qualities.  And  so  this  pioneer 
Jacksonian  has  been  vindicated.  His  first  wife  died  before  the  war,  and  later 
he  married  Mrs.  Johnson,  who  lived  near  Carrollton,  related  to  the  Perry  family, 
living  at  Rhoads'  Point  before  the  war.  She  had  a  boy  named  Charlie.  Cyrus 
Hayward  had  six  children  by  his  first  marriage — Cyrus,  Jr.,  William,  Caroline, 


GERMAX   BAPTIST    BRETHREN   HOME,   (iTRARD 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  337 

Jane,  Lucinda  and  Josephine.  Lucinda  became  the  wife  of  Leonard  Ketchum 
and  Josephine  married  Emmons  Loper.  Cyrus  served  through  the  Civil  war 
in  Company  F,  Twelfth  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  after  his  return  home  married 
Mary  Odell.  William  married  Almeda  Waggoner.  On  an  eighty  acre  tract 
north  of  Cyrus  Hayward's  place,  lived  his  brother  Ansel.  His  wife  was  a 
sister  of  Frank  Silsby.  They  both  died  early  in  life.  Their  four  children  were 
Rotheus,  Morillus.  Orville  and  Frank.  Rotheus  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Forty-fourth  Infantry  at  Alton  and  soon  thereafter  died  from  measles. 
Morillus  married  a  Miss  Robinson  near  Carlinville. 

ONE  OF  NATURE'S  NOBLEMEN. 

The  present  farm  home  of  James  Chism  was  called  the  "Caleb"  Handlin 
place  in  the  old  days,  but  as  far  back  as  I  can  remember  Daniel  Hayward  and 
family  occupied  it.  He  was  one  of  nature's  noblemen,  and  his  wife,  a  sister 
of  Caleb  Handlin,  was  one  of  the  finest  women  that  ever  graced  that  section 
of  the  country. 

Ella  Handlin  married  Professor  Thomas  Moore,  of  Blackburn  College.  At  or 
about  the  close  of  the  Civil  war,  Daniel  Hayward  sold  his  place  and  moved  to  a 
farm  some  distance  east  of  Chesterfield,  now  the  home  of  Ira  Ketchum.  Later, 
in  the  early  '703,  Daniel  Hayward  went  out  to  Sioux  Falls  and  amassed  quite  a 
fortune. 

IDEAL   YOUNG    MAN   OF  THE   NEIGHBORHOOD. 

The  old  Hayward  homestead  was  situated  way  back  in  the  field  to  the  north- 
west of  where  Daniel  lived.  William  was  the  youngest  son  and  remaining  with 
the  old  folks,  finally  came  into  possession  of  the  homestead.  He  married  Lo- 
dusta  Loper,  a  daughter  of  "Ad"  Loper.  William  was  considered  the  one  ideal 
young  man  of  the  whole  neighborhood,  his  only  competitor  in  the  estimation  of 
the  neighbors  being  Frank  Silsby.  William  finally  disposed  of  his  farm  and 
went  to  Minneapolis. 

Near  the  Harmony  schoolhouse  lived  a  family  by  the  name  of  Thurston. 
If  I  am  right  in  my  recollection,  Mrs.  Thurston  was  a  sister  of  the  Hay  wards. 
There  were  three  girls  of  the  Thurston  family — Amanda,  Irene  and  Ella,  and  one 
boy,  William.  Amanda  became  the  wife  of  Samuel  Garrett.  Irene  married 
Daniel  Ketchum. 

AN    ENGLISHMAN    OF   A   STURDY   TYPE. 

Robert  Carter  lived  east  of  the  Harmony  schoolhouse,  half  a  mile.  He 
was  an  Englishman  of  that  sturdy  type,  with  which  almost  the  whole  of  the 
Chesterfield  neighborhood  was  filled  in  those  pioneer  days.  They  made  the 
best  of  farmers,  were  most  honorable  and  industrious  citizens  and  most  oblig- 
ing and  accommodating  neighbors.  Mrs.  Carter  well  deserved  the  cognomen 
she  bore  for  many  years — "Aunty."  Their  oldest  boy  was  John.  He  died 
but  recently.  John  married  Miss  Rhoda  Kelsey,  whose  family  lived  near  Miles 
Station.  There  were  three  other  boys, — Joe,  Robert,  Jr.,  and  William. 


338  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

THE  SHATTUCK    BOYS. 

When  I  used  to  go  to  school  at  Harmony,  there  were  two  brothers  living 
across  the  road  just  west  of  Cyrus  Hayward's  place  by  the  name  of  Shattuck. 
They  were  carpenters.  And  back  there  before  the  war  there  lived  where  Horace 
Warner  now  has  his  home,  a  man  by  the  name  of  George  Jenks.  He  married  a 
Mrs.  Davidson,  who  had  a  son,  George,  who,  like  his  mother,  was  large  of  frame 
and  a  fellow  of  iron  nerve.  He  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Twelfth  Illinois  Cav- 
alry. He  chanced  to  be  home  on  furlough  at  the  time  that  Henderson,  the 
bushwhacker,  was  captured.  Henderson  lay  wounded  upstairs  and  it  was  a  se- 
rious question  as  to  who  would  take  his  life  in  his  hands  and  ascend  those  stairs 
and  face  the  wounded  desperado.  But  the  delay  was  only  for  a  moment,  when 
John  stepped  to  the  front  and  said,  "I  will  go  first." 

CHARLES  GOODSELL. 

The  next  place  to  the  north  of  George  Jenks  on  the  west  side  of  the  road 
and  where  John  Carter  made  his  home  for  several  years,  lived  Charles  Good- 
sell,  as  far  back  as  I  can  remember.  He  had  two  sons,  George  and  Wallace. 
Before  the  war  the  family  moved  to  Minnesota. 

THE    CHALLACOMBES. 

Nicholas  Challacombe  and  Nancy  G.  Carson,  eldest  daughter  of  Harvey  Car- 
son, were  married  before  I  was  born,  and  they  have  lived  on  the  "Mound" 
time  out  of  mind  so  far  as  I  am  concerned.  He  was  a  sturdy  Englishman  and 
came  into  the  neighborhood  some  time  in  the  '405.  The  oldest  daughter  was 
Belle.  There  was  a  little  coterie  of  we  youngsters  who  formed  a  social  club, 
as  it  were.  There  were  in  it  Belle  Challacombe,  Maggie  Carson,  Sena  Carson, 
Etta  Cross,  the  teacher  at  Summerville  who  boarded  at  Harvey  Carson's,  Dora 
Challacombe,  Addie  Carr,  Allen  Eastham,  John  Carson,  John  Butler,  myself  and 
others  whose  names  I  cannot  recall.  Belle  married  Horace  Warner.  Another 
daughter,  Mary,  married  Arthur  Hartwell.  Dora  married  John  Butler.  The 
other  children  were  William,  Fannie  and  Nicholas  ("Nickie.")  The  latter  mar- 
ried my  kinswoman,  Annie  Dannells. 

THE  EASTHAM    FAMILY. 

Away  back  yonder  long  before  I  was  born,  the  Eastham  family  moved  into 
the  neighborhood,  and  Lawson  Eastham  built  a  house  a  half  mile  east  of  the 
Chism  home  and  planted  two  poplar  trees,  which  later  became  landmarks. 
"Grandpa"  Eastham  was  a  man  of  slight  stature  and  always  wore  an  old  fashioned 
"stovepipe"  hat  of  the  style  of  that  day.  He  died,  I  think,  about  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war.  In  those  early  days  there  drifted  into  the  community  from 
Virginia  a  number  of  families  who  were  destined  to  form  a  very  essential  element 
in  its  future  history.  These  families  were  the  Easthams,  Loves,  Chiltons,  Rices, 
Farrows  and  others  not  now  remembered.  Albert  Eastham  was  a  son  of  Law- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  339 

son,  and  was  as  true  a  man  as  ever  lived.  He  was  called  "  'Squire."  His  first 
home,  now  owned  by  the  Goodwin  family,  was  north  of  Summerville,  'Squire 
Eastham  was  considered  a  model  man  by  all.  So  far  as  I  know,  he  was  the 
pioneer  threshing  machine  man  of  the  community.  A  way  back  yonder  when 
there  were  only  two  kinds  of  machines  in  the  country,  the  "Alton"  and  the 
"Whitehall,"  he  was  the  operator  and  owner  of  a  little  Whitehall.  They  used  to 
set  it  flat  on  the  ground  and  really  it  would  look  more  like  a  toy  than  a  real 
machine,  in  these  days  of  steamers.  They  used  to  place  a  horse  power  lever 
through  the  cross  sills  in  front  and  all  the  men  on  the  job  would  climb  on  to  it 
and  "kick  up"  the  rear  end,  and  thus  enable  them  to  run  out  the  back  wheel, 
after  which  it  was  allowed  to  settle  to  the  ground  with  more  or  less  abruptness 
according  to  the  spirit  and  mood  of  those  on  the  lever.  Down  at  the  old 
Eastham  place  there  was  a  shingle  mill  up  in  the  loft  of  the  barn.  Many  a 
walnut  "bolt"  I  have  seen  them  saw  into  the  finest  shingles  that  were  ever  nailed 
on  to  a  building.  Albert  Eastham  established  a  syrup  plant  just  across  the  road 
from  the  old  Baptist  church.  Mrs.  Eastham  was  Miss  Mary  Love,  sister  of 
Deacon  Lewis  Love.  She  spent  the  declining  years  of  her  life  at  Medora  and 
there  died.  Of  the  children  there  were  Susan,  Eliza,  Nancy,  Jane,  Isaac,  Lewis 
and  Allan.  As  has  been  mentioned  elsewhere,  Susan  married  John  Derr;  Eliza 
became  the  wife  of  Andrew  Farrow ;  and  Nancy  married  Dr.  Joseph  Hunter. 
Jane  died  early  in  life.  Isaac  married  Miss  Minnie  Chapin  and  Allan  married 
Emeline  Loper.  In  the  Eastham  family  resided  the  Prosser  girls.  Louisa  mar- 
ried Mr.  Ward,  who  resided  near  Brighton;  Susan  married  John  Hart,  also  a 
resident  of  Brighton.  Just  north  of  the  "Point"  stood  the  home  of  George 
Eastham,  whose  daughter  Emily  married  Thomas  Wheat,  a  nephew  of  the  Sum- 
merville blacksmith. 

Lewis  L.  Love  was  a  deacon  in  the  Summerville  Baptist  church.  He  was  a 
true  southern  gentleman  and  was  imbued  with  the  fine  instincts  of  chivalry 
which  mark  a  true  gentleman  from  the  south.  His  wife  was  Emily  Eastham 
and  the  family  consisted  of  Virginia,  who  married  James  R.  Glenn.  The  next 
daughter  was  Betty,  the  first  woman  I  ever  heard  play  an  organ  and  sing  to  her 
own  accompaniment.  The  next  daughter  was  Minnie,  and  the  youngest,  Emma. 
There  were  four  boys:  John,  Julius,  Bailey  and  Bird. 


ELDER   CHILTON   AN    EXHORTER. 

In  those  old  days  before  the  war  there  were  three  men  who  stand  out  most 
vividly  in  my  mind  because  of  the  fact  that  they  were  so  prominently  in  the 
public  eye  at  that  time.  In  those  days  the  man  of  God  was  revered  for  his  office, 
and,  if  he  had  the  right  qualities,  and  most  of  them  did,  he  was  beloved  for 
himself.  The  three  men  alluded  to  above  were  Elder  Jacob  Rhoads,  the  nestor  of 
them  all,  Elder  Albert  Farrow  and  Elder  Hezekiah  Chilton.  Elder  Chilton 
and  family  lived  just  west  of  the  cross  roads  north  of  Rhoads'  Point.  I  am  not 
quite  sure  about  it,  but  I  think  he  was  the  first  minister  I  ever  heard  preach  a 
sermon.  It  was  at  the  time  of  the  Morton  revival  in  1865  that  he  comes  to  my 
mind  most  vividly  in  his  work  in  the  church.  While  Rev.  Morton  did  the 


340  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

preaching,  mostly,  the  whole  matter  of  exhortation  and  the  after  service  was 
thrown  on  to  the  shoulders  of  Elder  Chilton. 


A    FL.U;    EPISODE. 

Elder  Chilton  had  come  from  the  south  many  years  before  the  war  and  was 
linked  up  with  southern  families  both  by  marriage  and  kinship,  hence  it  was 
the  most  natural  thing  in  the  world  that  his  sympathies  should  have  gone  out  to 
the  south  when  the  war  came  on.  Yet,  as  pastor  of  a  mixed  flock,  he  endeavored 
to  steer  clear  of  all  difficulties  growing  out  of  differences  in  politics  and  to  preach 
just  as  earnestly  among  the  northern  sympathizers  as  among  his  own  people.  He 
had  an  appointment  at  the  Delaware  schoolhouse,  which  he  was  in  the  habit  of 
meeting  once  a  month.  Politics  was  running  high  and  the  feeling  was  growing 
stronger  and  stronger  all  the  time  against  those  who  were  sympathizing  with  the 
south. 

One  Sunday  afternoon  my  father  and  I  started  to  walk  down  through  the 
Coventry  brush  to  the  meeting.  Somewhere  along  the  Elm  branch  we  met  Orin 
Palmer  in  the  little  open  prairie  on  the  bank  of  the  stream.  He  was  in  a  re- 
markable state  of  excitement  and  from  him  we  learned  that  a  Union  flag  had 
been  placed  over  the  schoolhouse  and  if  the  Elder  filled  his  appointment  he 
would  have  to  preach  under  the  folds  of  the  stars  and  stripes.  We  all  three 
hastened  back  to  the  schoolhouse  to  see  what  would  happen.  We  did  not  have 
long  to  wait.  The  day  was  bright  and  "old  glory"  was  certainly  deserving  of 
the  name  as  it  floated  in  the  afternoon  breeze.  Presently  we  espied  the  Elder 
coming  along  the  road  on  horseback,  up  beyond  Gaston  Twitchell's  place.  Some 
thought  he  would  face  about  as  soon  as  he  discovered  the  flag  and  saw  the  num- 
ber of  men  who  were  there  watching  to  see  what  he  would  do,  but  not  he.  He 
knew  there  was  nothing  to  fear  in  the  way  of  physical  violence  and  had  there 
been  I  am  sure  he  was  not  the  kind  of  a  man  who  would  have  "turned  tail  and 
run."  On  he  came  till  we  could  see  his  face.  It  was  as  white  as  a  cloth,  but 
we  could  not  know  whether  it  was  anger  or  sorrow.  He  dismounted,  tied  his 
horse,  and  came  boldly  up  to  the  crowd  of  men.  If  they  expected  him  to  fly 
into  a  passion  of  rage,  they  were  doomed  to  disappointment.  He  extended  his 
hand  to  them  as  usual,  and  not  one  refused  it.  Thus,  they  were  disarmed  at 
the  start. 

He  went  inside  and  the  crowd  followed  him.  The  pallor  did  not  leave  his 
face  and  when  he  announced  the  hymn  there  was  a  palpable  tremor  in  his  voice. 
Then  he  prayed  and  such  a  prayer  as  it  was !  I  only  wish  that  I  had  it  verba- 
tim to  reproduce  at  this  time.  As  he  prayed,  the  men  who  had  been  his  life-long 
neighbors  and  friends  felt  their  love  and  sympathies  go  out  to  the  man  who 
stood  by  them,  alone.  Then  came  the  sermon,  which  was  simply  a  talk,  in 
which  he  called  them  friends  and  in  which  he  made  very  clear  why  his  sympa- 
thies were  with  the  south  in  the  great  struggle  that  was  then  in  its  fury.  But 
he  was  so  moderate  in  his  language  and  so  earnest  in  his  statements  that  there 
was  sorrow  instead  of  anger  in  the  hearts  of  all  his  listeners.  He  never  referred 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  341 

in  a  single  word  to  what  might  have  been  deemed  an  insult  in  the  matter 
of  placing  the  flag  where  he  would  have  to  preach  under  it.  Then  came  the  ben- 
ediction, which  was  delivered  amidst  sobs  that  almost  precluded  the  speech. 
He  then  said,  "This  will  be  my  last  appearance  here  to  hold  divine  service,  but 
I  want  to  part  with  you  as  personal  friends,  no  matter  what  may  be  our  political 
differences."  And  then  he  shook  hands  with  them  all,  myself  included,  mounted 
his  horse  and  rode  away. 

Mrs.  Chilton  was  Mary  Eastham,  a  daughter  of  Lawson  Eastham.  Their 
eldest  son  was  Robert.  There  were  other  children,  as  follows :  Albert,  Ste- 
phen, Warren,  Betty,  Susan,  Fannie,  Lanta  and  Maria. 

THE  PARKER  FAMILY. 

About  three  miles  southeast  of  Medora  is  the  old  Parker  homestead.  Like 
all  the  pioneers  of  those  early  days,  who  settled  in  and  around  Rhoads'  Point, 
the  Parkers  were  southerners.  Joel  Parker  was  born  and  reared  in  the  old 
Dominion  but  while  yet  a  young  man  emigrated  to  Kentucky,  where  he  met  and 
married  Miriam  Haycraft.  To  this  union,  previous  to  1835,  four  daughters 
were  born :  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Sarah  and  Frances.  In  that  year  the  family 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  at  this  place.  Shortly  thereafter,  the  fifth  daughter 
Palmyra,  was  born,  and  tradition  has  it  that  she  was  the  first  child  born  in 
Shipman  township.  Later  on,  a  son,  D.  E..  and  a  daughter,  Luvenia,  were 
born.  About  this  time  the  father  died.  And  after  ten  years  of  widowhood 
Mrs.  Parker  was  united  in  marriage  with  Henry  Jolly,  and  to  this  union  one 
daughter,  Emma,  was  born.  Mr.  Jolly  only  lived  a  couple  of  years.  Elizabeth 
married  John  L.  Rhoads  and  for  many  years  resided  on  the  present  John  Wilton 
farm  south  of  Medora,  where  she  reared  a  large  family  of  children.  She  is  now 
residing  in  Medora,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two.  Mary  married  F.  B.  Simpson ; 
Sarah,  W.  J.  Calverd;  Frances,  William  Simpson;  and  Palmyra,  J.  L.  Sherman. 
Luvenia  became  the  wife  of  Thomas  B.  Forwood,  and  Emma  Jolly  married 
Oliver  C.  Forwood.  As  a  widow,  she  later  married  H.  W.  Denny  and  now  reL 
sides  at  Piasa.  B.  E.  (Doc)  Parker  married  Margaret  Cain  and  resided  on  the 
old  homestead  for  sixty  years,  where  he  reared  a  family  of  children.  His  home 
is  now  in  Medora.  It  is  remarkable  that  all  of  the  Parker  children  are  still 
alive  and  ranging  in  age  from  sixty-seven  to  eighty-two  years. 

CHARI.KS  WALES  AND  FAMILY. 

The  Wales  family  came  into  the  county  in  an  early  day  and  settled  two 
miles  south  of  the  "Point,"  where  they  had  a  highly  cultivated  farm.  They 
purchased  some  of  their  land  from  the  Blackburn  Seminary,  as  it  was  then 
known,  and  through  some  transfer  of  interest,  it  is  said  they  were  compelled  to 
pay  for  the  land  a  second  time.  This  was  always  deemed  very  unjust  by  the 


342  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

friends  of  the  family,  as  I  used  to  hear  it  discussed  when  I  was  a  lad.  Charles 
Wales  was  the  head  of  the  house.  He  had  two  sons,  William  and  Edward,  and 
three  daughters,  Abigail,  who  married  Benjamin  Roodhouse;  Elizabeth,  the 
wife  of  Marcus  North ;  and  Harriet,  who  became  the  wife  of  William  Hays. 

THE    SALT   OF   THE    EARTH. 

As  I  have  frequently  mentioned,  the  pioneers  of  Rhoads'  Point,  Summer- 
ville  and  Delaware  sections  of  the  county,  were  the  very  salt  of  the  earth,  and 
as  I  pass  from  one  to  another  of  them  and  the  pages  of  their  lives  unfold  before 
my  gaze,  recalling  the  incidents  with  which  as  a  boy  I  was  familiar,  I  am  more 
and  more  convinced  that  but  few  sections  of  the  county  really  had  a  finer,  grander 
lot  of  pioneers,  both  men  and  women,  than  did  this  part  of  Macoupin.  In  many 
ways,  Judge  Thomas  Rice  stands  preeminently  in  the  fore  front  of  the  brave 
and  noble  men  whom  I  knew  in  my  boyhood  days.  He  was  a  true  southern 
gentleman.  He  was  rather  large,  well  built,  with  a  full  beard,  which  gave  him, 
to  me,  a  very  patriarchial  appearance.  He  was  a  man  in  whom  the  neighbors 
had  unbounded  confidences  and  even  when  the  stress  of  the  war  was  upon  us 
we  all  felt  that  Judge  Rice  stood  true  and  faithful  to  his  old  time  friends  and 
neighbors  and  that  he  was  the  real  bulwark  between  us  and  northern  sentiments 
and  those  bands  of  guerilla  marauders  which  infested  the  country  during  the 
latter  days  of  the  war. 

The  Rices  lived  at  the  old  homestead  just  south  of  the  "Point."  Away  back 
before  the  war  the  postoffice  was  kept  by  Judge  Rice.  There  were  five  boys: 
John,  Washington,  Stephen,  Charles  and  George.  It  was  during  the  war  period 
that  the  boys  concluded  to  put  in  a  milling  outfit  and  of  course,  a  water  supply 
was  the  first  thing  to  be  considered.  So  they  sunk  a  great  square  hole  in  the 
ground,  in  the  ravine  just  north  of  the  Westbrook  home  and  on  the  east  side 
of  the  road.  From  some  cause,  it  was  abandoned,  after  it  was  sunk  some  forty 
or  fifty  feet  deep  and  at  quite  a  cost  of  labor  and  money.  Later  on,  toward  the 
close  of  the  war,  the  boys  sunk  another  square  hole  in  the  ground  just  south  of 
the  old  Baptist  church  in  what  is  now  the  north  end  of  Medora,  and  evidently 
got  what  they  were  looking  for,  as  in  time  a  nice  building  was  erected  on  the 
site  and  an  excellent  mill  plant  installed.  Many  a  bushel  of  grain  I  have  hauled 
to  that  mill,  for  our  big  force  of  hired  men  used  to  eat  not  a  few  biscuits  in; 
those  days.  At  first  the  people  were  a  little  afraid  that  the  flour  would  not  be  O. 
K.,  but  it  was  not  long  till  the  Rice  boys  had  Rockbridge  and  Fidelity  "skinned  to 
death"  when  it  came  to  good  flour.  There  were  five  girls  as  well  as  five  boys  in 
the  Rice  family :  Susan,  who  married  John  Cleaver ;  Betty,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Imri  Vancil ;  Jennie,  who  married  Harry  Westbrook ;  Amanda,  who  married 
John  Payne ;  and  Emma,  who  married  Ferd  Vanhorbeke. 

AARON  ARTMAN. 

Somewhere  out  west  of  Judge  Rice's  home,  when  I  was  a  boy,  lived  the 
Artman  family.  I  do  not  recall  ever  having  seen  any  of  them  except  the  two 
boys,  Aaron  and  Andrew.  I  remember  when  Andy  Steed  opened  his  harness 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  343 

shop  about  the  year  1859  and  when  Aaron  became  an  apprentice  in  the  shop. 
Aaron  went  to  the  war  and  served  with  Colonel  Palmer  in  Company  C,  Four- 
teenth Illinois  Cavalry.  He  then  returned  home,  completed  his  apprenticeship 
with  Andy  Steed  and  then  opened  a  shop  of  his  own.  He  married  Henrietta 
Calverd  and  both  are  now  sleeping  the  sleep  of  the  just.  In  this  connection  it 
might  be  well  to  make  some  mention  of  Andrew  Steed.  He  came  to  the  "Point" 
before  the  war  and  I  think  he  erected  the  first  two-story  building  in  the  present 
business  section  of  the  place.  I  am  sure  it  was  the  first  painted  building.  It 
was  somewhere  just  north  of  Loomis'  drug  store  corner  and  was  destroyed  by 
fire  a  few  years  ago.  After  the  railroad  was  completed  Andy  went  into  merchan- 
dising, which  he  continued  until  he  retired  from  business.  The  name  of  the 
place  was  now  changed  to  Medora,  other  business  houses  opened  and  things 
began  to  assume  quite  a  metropolitan  air.  The  postoffice  was  brought  back  from 
Summerville  and  Andy  was  appointed  postmaster.  During  the  war  he  served 
bravely  in  the  Second  Missouri  Cavalry.  After  returning  home,  he  married 
Celia  Simpson. 

SWEET  SINGERS   OF    MEDORA. 

"Though  we  may  forget  the  singer,  we  will  not  forget  the  song,"  so  sang  the 
minstrel  long  years  ago,  and  it  is  true.  Back  there  when  I  was  a  wee  bit  of  a  lad 
just  old  enough  to  trust  to  send  up  to  the  postoffice  at  Judge  Rice's  long  enough  be- 
fore the  war,  there  used  to  be  a  log  cabin  standing  out  in  the  woods  just  west  of 
the  road  and  south  of  the  present  Main  street  corner,  that  is  across  from  Lax  & 
Gruhn's  store.  I  knew  nothing  of  the  family  except  that  their  name  was  Bell 
and  that  they  were  two  "slashing,  good  looking"  girls.  I  do  not  recall  the  name 
of  either  of  them.  I  used  to  see  a  lot  of  them,  for  they  came  to  our  house,  more 
or  less,  and  I  liked  them  the  best  in  the  world  because  they  always  made  life 
brighter  wherever  they  went  with  their  gift  of  song.  Of  course  they  did  not 
sing  anything  in  the  operatic  line,  but,  like  Peter  of  old,  such  as  they  had  they 
gave,  gave  it  so  freely,  willingly  and  sweetly,  that  it  won  its  way  into  the  pioneer 
hearts  of  those  days  much  more  readily  than  would  have  the  Anvil  Chorus, 
Lohengrin,  Faust,  or  anything  of  the  kind. 

A  couple  of  their  songs  have  remained  with  me  all  these  years.    Here  is  one : 

"O,  it's  every  Sunday  morning 
With  my  darling  by  my  side 
Awaiting  for  the  wagon 
And  we'll  all  take  a  ride. 

"O,  wait  for  the  wagon 
Wait  for  the  wagon 
O,  wait  for  the  wagon 
And  we'll  all  take  a  ride." 


344  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

The  second  song  was  not  particularly  poetic  or  elegant,  but  it  was  immensely 
popular  in  those  days.  Here  is  just  a  taste  of  it : 

"Shanghai  roosters  grow  so  tall 
In  a  few  days,  a  few  days, 
That  you  scarce  can  hear  them  crow  at  all, 
In  a  few  days,  a  few  clays." 

THE    PAYNE    FAMILY. 

If  my  memory  serves  me  right,  the  Paynes  were  not  among  the  original 
pioneers  of  Rhoads  Point,  though  the  family  must  have  come  there  about  the 
beginning  of  the  war.  I  can  remember  when  they  did  not  live  there,  or  at  least, 
when  there  was  no  house  where  they  afterward  resided.  I  can  remember  when 
their  building  was  erected  and  at  the  time  it  was  thought  to  be  a  great  acquisition 
to  the  village.  It  was  the  largest  house  in  the  place  and  was  painted — a  matter 
that  always  brought  forth  favorable  comment  in  those  days  of  log  houses. 
Thomas  Payne  was  the  head  of  the  family  and  met  a  tragic  death.  The  children 
were :  John :  Elizabeth,  who  married  David  Hall ;  and  Sarah,  who  married  Joseph 
Hall.  Both  were  residents  of  the  Keller  schoolhotise  neighborhood  over  north  of 
the  Macoupin  creek. 

TIIK   lil.Al'KIU'KXS. 

In  those  far  away  days  there  were  two  families  of  Ulackburns  living  in  the 
community :  Dr.  Blackburn,  who  resided  near  the  bridge  spanning  the  Macoupin, 
and  which  still  bears  his  name;  and  two  cousins,  (ieorge  and  James,  who  were 
from  the  south  and  lived  at  the  "Point."  It  is  of  this  family  that  1  am  now  writ- 
ing. I  have  no  personal  remembrance  of  Dr.  Blackburn. 

There  is  a  little  stream  running  northwesterly  through  Medora  out  near  where 
Allan  Eastham  used  to  live.  In  the  old  days  there  was  a  clearing  and  a  small 
field  extending  from  that  brooklet  in  a  wedge  shape  northerly  to  "Old  Tobe's" 
store.  South  of  the  stream  the  timber  spread  out  in  a  fringe  from  the  road 
westward  to  the  Mississippi  river  so  far  as  1  ever  knew  and  right  in  the  shadow 
of  that  fringe,  about  one  hundred  yards  west  of  the  main  road,  was  a  log  cabin, 
which  was  occupied  by  the  Blackburn  people.  George  was  married  and  had  a 
daughter  named  Alice,  who  used  to  attend  the  Keller  school  in  the  old  Baptist 
church.  Jim  Blackburn  was  a  bachelor  and  a  genial  sort  of  fellow  in  a  way. 
Both  the  boys  were  ardent  southern  sympathizers  and  common  report  during  the 
war  was  that  they  were  linked  up  in  very  close  relationship  with  the  bands  of 
bushwhackers  which  infested  Jersey  and  Macoupin  counties.  At  least  the  whole 
family  disappeared  during  those  times  and  have  never  been  seen  about  Medora 
since. 

Another  character  of  those  days  was  Coonrod,  the  wagon  maker.  After  part 
of  the  Perry  family  had  gone  away  there  came  a  man  to  the  "Point"  who  did 
wagon  making  and  the  wood  working  end  of  the  Perry  shops.  His  name  was 
Conrad  Wickenhauser  Coonrod,  and  a  right  good  workman  he  was.  He  built  for 
himself  a  tiny  bit  of  a  house  just  north  of  the  building  occupied  by  Andy  Steed 


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HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  345 

and  it  was  a  painted  house.    He  was  a  sturdy,  quiet  citizen,  and  like  most  Ger- 
mans, was  very  thrifty. 

"OLD  TOBE." 

Just  south  of  the  old  Baptist  church  stood  a  little  store  conducted  in  those 
early  days  by  Tobias  Barklow,  commonly  known  far  and  wide  as  "Old  Tobe." 
His  store  was  surely  not  more  than  twelve  feet  square  but  it  was  packed  with 
things  such  as  the  people  of  that  day  had  need  of.  As  I  remarked,  the  store 
was  only  about  a  dozen  feet  square,  and  yet  Tobe  "lived  and  moved  and  had 
his  being"  in  that  store.  He  had  a  little  stove  back  in  the  corner  on  which  he 
did  his  cooking.  There  was  a  small  hole  in  the  ceiling,  which  led  to  a  little 
chamber  under  the  rafters.  He  had  a  ladder  which  he  used  as  a  means  of  reach- 
ing this  room.  He  would  draw  it  up  after  him  and  so  slept  securely  from  danger 
from  burglars  or  other  intruders.  After  a  while  Tobe  disposed  of  his  store  and 
goods  in  some  fashion  and  purchased  a  small  farm  north  of  the  old  Chism  place 
and  near  Hodges'  creek. 

BILL  DAVIS*  OX  TEAM   RUNS  AWAY. 

On  the  farm  "Old  Tobe"  had  as  a  neighbor  a  man  by  the  name  of  Davis.  In 
the  days  about  the  close  of  the  war  there  was  a  big  bridge  across  the  Elm  branch 
just  south  of  the  Luther  Palmer  place.  One  hazy,  dreamy,  sultry  autumn  day 
just  in  the  midst  of  all  the  glory  and  beauty  'of  Indian  summer,  I  heard  the 
rumble  of  a  wagon  coming  down  the  hill.  I  look  up  and  there  I  saw  a  sight 
never  to  be  forgotten.  Down  that  hill  Bill  Davis'  ox  team  was  coming,  "lickety- 
split"  with  heads  down  and  tails  high  in  air,  their  speed  accelerating  at  every 
revolution  of  the  big  hind  wheels.  I  looked  in  vain  for  Bill  and  concluded  that 
the  oxen  had  gotten  away  from  him,  somewhere  along  the  road  from  Alton, 
where  I  knew  he  had  been  with  a  load  of  wheat,  as  I  had  seen  him  go  down  a 
day  or  so  before.  But  the  fact  was  that  the  "sultry  summer  sun"  had  been  too 
drowsy  for  him  and  he  had  gone  to  sleep  in  the  bottom  of  the  wagon  and  was 
letting  the  oxen  do  their  own  driving.  They  were  doing  it  now  with  a  vengeance. 

Just  before  the  outfit  reached  the  bridge  Davis  drew  his  drowsy  length  up, 
getting  as  far  along  in  the  process  as  his  knees  just  when  the  forward  wheel 
struck  the  incline  to  the  bridge.  The  reader  can  guess  what  happened.  The  front 
end  of  the  wagon  seemed  to  spring  ten  feet  into  the  air  and  Bill  shot  up  like  a 
"jack  in  the  box"  so  far  that  when  he  struck  the  bottom  of  the  wagon  again  he 
was  near  the  rear  end  of  it.  In  the  back  of  the  wagon  was  a  brand  new  cook- 
stove  and  when  the  hind  wheel  struck  the  incline,  up  went  the  wagon  again,  and 
up,  up,  went  the  stove,  and  on  went  the  oxen,  and  with  them  the  wagon,  of 
course.  When  the  stove  came  down  out  of  the  clouds  (of  dust)  there  was  no 
wagon  in  sight  and  the  stove  was  spread  all  over  the  bridge  in  pieces  about  a 
foot  in  size.  Davis  never  came  back  after  it  at  all. 

THE   VILLAGE   BLACKSMITH. 

Out  in  the  open,  a  little  to  the  northeast  of  "Old  Tobe's"  store,  stood  the  first 
Mt.  Pleasant  Baptist  church  building.  It  was  really  nothing  more  than  a  cheap 


346  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

wooden  structure  and  I  am  sure  that  no  paint  ever  adorned  a  single  square  foot 
of  its  weather-boarding.  And  just  around  the  corner  to  the  east  and  north  of 
the  church  stood  the  residence  of  James  Perry.  He  was  the  "village  blacksmith," 
and  one  of  his  sons  conducted  a  wagon  making  shop  in  connection  therewith. 
In  a  little  addition  built  on  to  the  north  end  of  his  residence  two  more  of  the  boys 
had  a  harness  shop.  Those  were  the  days  when  the  wagon  maker  "got  out" 
most  of  his  own  material.  They  used  to  have  a  big  "frame  saw,"  with  which 
they  sawed  out  felloes,  hounds  and  all  other  curved  stuff.  They  used  in  those 
days  steam  seasoned  oak  and  hickory  for  wagon  material  and  of  a  real  hot  day 
it  was  a  "man  killer"  to  get  out  a  set  of  felloes  for  a  wheel.  The  names  of  the 
two  Perry  boys  who  conducted  the  harness  shop  were  John  and  Andy.  The 
whole  family,  about  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war,  went  over  to  Carrollton. 
The  younger  boy  was  named  "Bun."  The  next  thing  I  heard  of  him  after  the 
family  went  to  Carollton  was  that  he  had  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-fifth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  to  do  guard  duty  at  Alton.  That  was  the 
same  regiment  of  which  Rotheus  Hayward  was  a  member,  and  like  him,  "Bun" 
died  of  measles  shortly  after  he  was  mustered  in. 

Not  far  away  from  Perry's  shop  was  a  house  occupied  by  "Doc"  Simpson 
and  family.  In  the  early  days  before  the  postoffice  passed  into  the  hands  of  Judge 
Rice,  it  was  kept  by  Mr.  Simpson.  One  time  I  went  to  Medora  and  as  I  missed 
his  familiar  figure  on  the  street,  I  made  inquiries  and  they  told  me  he  had  joined 
that  innumerable  host  over  on  the  other  shore.  There  were  three  daughters: 
Celia,  Hattie  and  Nellie;  and  one  son,  Dick.  Celia  married  Andy  Steed. 

MEDORA'S  BONIFACE. 

After  the  railroad  was  completed  through  Medora  in  1869,  there  was  a 
field  for  a  hotel,  and  William  Simpson  opened  one  in  a  large  building,  which 
he  erected  on  the  south  side  of  the  street  leading  to  the  depot  and  about  op- 
posite the  present  Loper  store.  Mrs.  Simpson  was  one  of  the  famous  Parker 
sisters,  of  whom  I  have  mentioned.  Becoming  a  widow,  she  is  now  the  wife  of 
Rev.  John  W.  Rice.  The  children  of  William  Simpson  consisted  of  three 
boys,  Gideon,  James  and  William,  by  his  first  wife.  The  children  by  the  second 
marriage  were  Reuben,  Stella  and  Lucella. 

John  Simpson,  in  the  early  days,  lived  in  a  little  cabin  that  was  on  the  comer 
just  north  and  west  of  the  present  residence  of  Francis  Metcalf.  Later  on 
he  moved  over  to  Summerville  and  lived  in  a  little  house  next  to  the  residence 
of  the  "parish  pedagogue,"  Stroud  Keller.  The  family  then  consisted  of  the 
parents  and  two  boys,  William  and  Chester.  Near  the  close  of  the  war  John 
got  the  contract  for  carrying  the  mail  from  Brighton  to  Greenfield.  Of  course 
that  was  before  the  days  of  the  railroad.  Mrs.  Simpson  was  Lottie  Sherman, 
daughter  of  Barney  Sherman,  and  sister  of  Lem  Sherman,  so  well  known  in 
Summerville  some  forty  years  ago.  She  was  a  dear  good  woman,  and  a 
model  mother. 

To  the  east  of  "Doc"  Simpson's  and  out  in  the  field  a  short  distance,  was 
the  house  in  which  lived  "Jack"  Calverd  and  family,  consisting  of  the  father, 
mother,  "Billie"  and  Henrietta.  Mrs.  Calverd  was  another  member  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  347 

Parker  family.     She  reared  a  large   family.     There   were  William;   Henrietta, 
who  married  Aaron  Artman ;  and  others   I  cannot  now  recall. 


THE   CHISM    FAMILY. 

1  do  not  recall  when  John  Chism  and  family  did  not  live  at  the  present 
homestead  north  of  Medora,  for,  without  doubt,  they  were  there  before  I  was 
born.  John  Chism  was  the  son  of  William  Chism  and  the  family  originally 
came  from  Kentucky  to  Illinois  in  1829  and  settled  on  the  "old  place"  in  1848. 
In  1844  John  and  Ellen  Skeen  were  united  in  marriage  and  settled  on  a  farm 
west  of  Chesterfield,  now  known  as  the  John  Dews  farm,  where  they  remained 
four  years  and  then  on  the  Chism  homestead  north  of  Medora  in  1848.  He 
was  a  sturdy,  heavy  built  man,  with  muscles  of  iron  and  was  always  in  the 
best  of  health.  It  was  never  too  early  for  him  to  be  out  in  the  field  at  work 
and  never  too  late  if  the  busy  season  was  on.  In  those  early  days  there  wa3 
great  competition  between  three  men  as  to  who  should  be  first  in  the  field  all 
work  in  the  morning.  They  were  John  Chism,  Lawrence  Johnson  and  Luther 
Palmer,  my  father.  Of  the  children,  I  remember  William  and  James  and  the 
two  older  girls,  Adelaide  and  Celia. 

OVERTON'S   "ULIND   PIG." 

South  of  Summerville  about  half  way  to  Piasa,  there  stood  a  little  cabin, 
or  "shack,"  and  in  it  resided  Tom  Overton.  The  place  was  known  far  and 
wide  because  of  the  fact  that  the  thirsty  wayfarer  could  always  get  a  "wee 
dhrap  fer  to  wet  'is  wissel,"  on  the  sly ;  that  is  what  people  used  to  allege  and 
I  always  thought  they  knew,  some  of  them,  from  personal  experience.  Tom 
was  always  in  the  meshes  of  the  law  and  his  oft  repeated  slogan  "there's  law 
till  Cairlinveele,"  either  in  jest  or  greater  seriousness,  men  who  had  a  griev- 
ance of  any  kind,  real  or  fancied,  would  console  themselves  with  Tom's  slogan, 
"there's  law  till  Cairlinveele."  I  think  that  eventually  the  Overton  "blind  pig" 
was  fenced  out.  At  least,  the  family  moved  away  in  early  war  days. 

THE  RHOADS   FAMILY. 

The  patriarch  of  the  Rhoads  family  was  Elder  Jacob  Rhoads,  familiarly 
called  "Uncle  Jakey."  Of  the  Swaffords  I  recall  nothing,  except  that  one  of 
the  women  of  the  family  married  Leonard  Trabue  about  war  times. 

Between  Summerville  and  Piasa  and  southeast  of  the  "Point"  lived  Ben- 
jamin Rhoads  and  family,  as  far  back  as  I  can  remember.  He  kept  quite  a 
stock  of  patent  medicines  that  were  popular  in  those  days,  such  as  cologogue, 
chenoidon,  I  am  not  vouching  for  the  right  spelling,  but  I  can  vouch  for  its 
abominable  odor  and  taste;  Fahnestock's  vermifuge,  Landreth's  pills,  Perry 
Davis'  pain  killer,  Whitfield's  ague  cure,  etc.,  etc.  aclnauseum.  That  was  be- 
fore the  day  of  sugar-coated  pills.  All  the  medicine  of  those  days  was  most 
horrid  stuff  to  take.  It  seems  to  me  now  that  the  chief  virtues  of  materia 


348  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

medica  of  fifty  years  ago  was  its  distressing  awfulness.  The  whole  family, 
except  William,  moved  to  Minnesota  about  the  close  of  the  war. 

To  the  south  of  Medora,  and  where  John  Wilton  now  lives,  was  the  home 
of  John  L.  Rhoads,  as  far  back  as  I  can  remember. 

South  of  Summerville  about  a  mile  lived  William  Rhoads.  He  was  a 
hustling,  busy  man  of  affairs,  and  a  good  farmer.  He  was  married  four 
times,  I  think,  and  raised  quite  a  large  family. 

A  mile  or  more  west  of  the  Luther  Palmer  home,  over  on  the  Kemper 
road,  lived  John  G.  Rhoads.  There  were  several  other  members  of  the  Rhoads 
family.  I  only  recall  the  names  Doran,  Worthum,  Edward,  Newton  and  Charles. 
Emily,  daughter  of  William  Rhoads.  married  William  Brewer. 

THE    LOPER    FAMILY. 

The  Loper  family  is  certainly  one  of  the  old  school.  I  presume  the  stock 
originated  back  among  the  Pennsylvania  Germans.  As  far  back  as  I  can  re- 
member, George  and  Sarah  Loper,  and  a  house  full  of  children  were  living 
at  the  old  homestead  in  Summerville.  Some  nine  or  ten  children  grew  to  ma- 
turity. George  Loper  was  energetic  and  prospered  in  material  affairs,  accord- 
ingly. His  wheat  stacks  were  the  largest,  his  corn  yield  the  greatest  and  his 
stock  the  fattest  of  anybody's  in  the  community.  He  could  neither  read  nor 
write  but  it  used  to  be  said  that  he  could  transact  and  keep  track  of  more 
business  in  his  head  than  most  men  could  in  a  dozen  day  books.  I  remember  to 
have  seen  him  at  Alton  one  time  about  the  beginning  of  the  war,  delivering 
hogs  to  a  slaughter  house.  They  were  killing  the  hogs  and  weighing  them  one 
at  a  time,  just  before  they  slaughtered  them.  The  weights  were  called  out 
and  the  oldest  boy,  John  T.,  stood  there  entering  the  numbers  in  the  book. 
When  the  weight  of  the  last  hog,  was  called  out,  Mr.  Loper  announced  the  total 
weight,  but  John  T.  had  the  long  column  to  add  up  before  he  was  able  to  give 
the  total.  The  oldest  girl,  Lucinda,  married  William  Brewer  before  the  war. 
John  T.  died  when  a  young  man.  The  other  boys  were  Melvin,  Emmons  and 
Thaddeus. 

SUMMERVILLE'S  FIRST  SETTLER. 

Without  doubt,  Lester  Hoisington  was  the  first  settler  within  the  precincts 
of  Summerville.  He  was  my  mother's  half  brother,  and  was  married  to  my 
father's  sister  Roxanna.  After  moving  to  Montgomery  county,  he  prospered 
and  reared  a  large  family  of  children. 

ANOTHER     PIONEER    SUMMERVILL1AX. 

As  far  back  as  my  memory  carries  me,  the  Kenworthy  family  lived  at  the 
southeast  corner  in  Summerville.  They  were  sturdy,  English  people.  The 
head  of  the  house  was,  Edward  Kenworthy,  and  there  were  three  girls,  Lizzie, 
Ellen  and  Etta.  In  time  Lizzie  became  the  wife  of  Martin  Haynes.  Ellen 
married  John  Richardson.  Edward  finally  died  and  the  widow  became  the  wife 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  349 

of  Christ.   Morris.     They  moved  to  the  Morris  homestead   out   toward   Black- 
burn bridge,  and  reared  quite  a  family  of  girls. 

THE  VILLAGE  DOMINIE. 

I  do  not  remember  the  time  when  Stroucl  V.  Keller  did  not  live  in  the  little 
cottage  just  across  the  road  east  of -George  Loper's,  and  "the  memory  of  man 
runneth  not  to  the  contrary,"  as  he  used  to  be  so  fond  of  quoting,  when  he  was 
not  the  teacher  in  the  Summerville  school.  Mrs.  Keller  was  the  daughter  of 
Elder  Jacob  V.  Rhoads.  I  remember  Stroud  Keller  as  a  schoolteacher,  a 
shorthand  teacher,  a  writing  teacher,  a  lawyer,  a  preacher,  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  a  political  speaker,  a  candidate  for  county  clerk,  a  newspaper  corres- 
pondent, in  fact,  a  general,  all-around  good  fellow,  worthy  citizen,  active  partisan, 
able  debater  and  an  earnest  exhorter  to  righteousness.  As  it  was,  I  am  sure  there 
was  never  a  district  schoolteacher  in  Macoupin  county,  no,  nor  in  the  whole  state 
of  Illinois,  who  could  touch  the  hem  of  his  blue  jeans  coat.  He  was  unique  and 
effective  in  his  methods ;  he  was  sui  generis — he  trotted  in  a  class  all  by  himself 
— in  his  summary  dealings  with  the  lazy  and  refractory.  Under  these  circum- 
stances, he  would  rather  whip  a  boy  than  eat  his  dinner.  I  have  seen  him  remain 
at  noon  to  lick  a  boy,  while  his  dinner  was  getting  cold  at  home.  One  of  the  "old 
boys"  wrote  that  Stroud  never  whipped  a  boy  while  he  was  angry ;  no,  I  am  sure 
he  did  not,  for  there  was  such  supreme  happiness  in  his  soul  the  moment  he 
grabbed  the  hazel  rod  in  his  hand  that  all  his  anger  was  instantly  transmitted  into 
ecstacies  of  delight.  When  I  first  started  to  school,  there  was  a  quarter  of  an 
acre  of  splendid  hazel  brush  growing  wild  just  back  of  the  schoolhouse.  What 
wonderful  astute  acumen  that  old  time  board  of  trustees  displayed  in  locating  the 
schoolhouse  on  that  particular  site;  especially  with  Stroud  Keller  as  prospective 
teacher.  I  can  remember  even  now  just  how  it  felt  when  Stroud  would  send 
a  fellow  out  to  get  a  rod  for  his  own  castigation.  That  was  not  what  Stroud 
called  it,  but  it  was  a  case  where  a  licking  hurt  just  as  badly  by  any  other  name. 
Long  years  before  I  was  through  the  grammar  grade  Stroud  had  exhausted  the 
supply  of  hazel  brush  in  that  patch. 

With  the  boys  of  Company  C,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-third  Illinois  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  Stroud  Keller  marched  away  to  Rock  Island  and  served  his 
country  for  one  hundred  days,  guarding  prisoners.  He  was  a  good  teacher  and 
the  uniformly  high  grade  of  men  and  women  who  grew  up  in  that  neighborhood 
and  have  gone  out  to  all  points  of  the  compass  was  made  possible  only  through 
the  early  training  of  this  same  man,  Stroud  V.  Keller. 

THE  VILLAGE   PLOW    MAKER. 

Who  that  lived  within  forty  miles  of  Summerville  in  those  old  days  did  not 
know  "Boss"  Wheat.  If  he  had  any  "front"  name  I  do  not  .remember  ever  to 
have  heard  it.  Wheat  lived  in  a  modest  little  cottage  just  across  the  road  and  a 
little  north  of  George  Loper's  house,  and  north  of  his  house  was  the  blacksmith 
shop.  He  was  master  of  his  trade  and  was  well  named,  for  he  certainly  was  a 
"boss  workman."  He  was  a  man  who  knew  how  to  do  things.  He  was  not  only 


350  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

a  natural  mechanic,  but  a  real  genius  as  well.  He  made  a  specialty  of  a  two- 
horse  plow,  with  a  high  wooden  stock,  nearly  straight  beam,  long  pointed  shire 
and  long  curling  mold  board.  His  only  competitor  in  those  days  was  the  Moline 
plow,  which  had  a  low  mold  board,  with  the  "dish"  in  it  turned  the  wrong  way, 
and  it  would  not  "scour"  if  it  were  paid  for  it.  But  the  Wheat  plow  would  lie 
awake  of  nights,  so  to  speak,  to  scour.  The  Wheat  plow  was  a  general  favorite 
with  most  farmers,  though  of  course,  some  preferred  the  Moline.  I  am  sure, 
however,  that  "Boss"  Wheat's  best  product  was  the  "double  plows"  he  used  to 
make  way  back  fifty  years  ago.  They  were  used  for  the  cultivation  of  corn 
and  were  great  labor  savers,  as  one  man  could  easily  do  two  men's  work  with 
them.  They  were  so  adjusted  by  a  double  set  of  cross  bars  that  the  plows 
would  throw  the  dirt  from  the  younger  corn,  then  by  reversing  the  plows, 
throw  the  dirt  up  to  the  hill  at  "laying-by"  time.  And  then  there  were  harrows, 
coulters  and  a  host  of  other  things  he  could  make.  I  have  seen  him  temper 
steel  till  it  was  as  hard  as  glass  and  as  tough  as  the  best  Bessemer  of  today.  He 
finally  passed  to  the  beyond  and  his  widow  married  John  Wilson,  and  moved' 
up  near  Carlinville,  just  west  of  Hurricane  creek.  Of  the  children  there  were 
Charles,  Wesley,  George,  Samuel  and  Hannah. 

JOHN  ROACH. 

Just  north  of  "Boss"  Wheat's  smithy,  on  the  east  side  of  the  street  stood  a 
cottage  occupied  by  John  Roach.  If  my  memory  serves  me  rightly,  John  Roach 
conducted  the  Summerville  store  with  John  Farrow.  Mrs.  Roach  was  a  sister 
of  Joseph  and  David  Hall  and  she  was  the  mother  of  a  large  family  of  children. 
The  boys  were  David,  Thomas,  Henry  and  John ;  and  the  girls,  Adelaide,  Lucy, 
Alma,  Jennie  and  Betty.  Adelaide  married  young  Mr.  Beebe,  south  of  Medora. 

EDWARD   COREY. 

Across  the  street  and  north  from  the  Roach  store  was  the  home  of  Edward 
F.  Corey.  He  was  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Hartwell-Loomis  and  Mrs.  Corey  was 
a  Miss  Deacon.  One  winter  her  two  brothers,  Henry  and  Ira,  lived  with  the 
Coreys  and  went  to  school.  Edward  Corey  one  winter  taught  in  the  old  school- 
house. 

ENOCH    KEELE. 

East  of  the  store  in  Summerville,  and  back  from  the  road  to  the  south  in 
the  heart  of  a  great  orchard,  lived  Enoch  Keele  and  family  as  early  as  I  can 
remember.  Mrs.  Keele  was  Miss  Margaret  Loper.  Her  daughter  Lucetta 
married  Stephen  Rice,  and  Mary  became  the  wife  of  John  Barnstable,  now  of 
Medora.  The  only  boy  was  Alonzo.  The  family  subsequently  moved  over 
east  of  Chesterfield,  while  I  was  still  in  the  district  school. 

ELFRETH    JOHNSON. 

As  noted  heretofore  there  were  people  from  almost  every  section  of  the 
east  and  south  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  this  section  of  the  county.  El- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  351 

freth  Johnson  came  from  New  Jersey.     When  I  was  a  boy  one  of  the  popular 
songs  of  the  day   ran   something  like  this : 

"Come  from  every  station, 

Come  from  every  way, 
Come  along,  come  along, 

And  make  no  delay. 
Come  along,  come  along, 

And  don't  you  be  alarm' 
For  Uncle  Sam  is  rich  enough 

To  give  us  all  a  farm." 

•  And  so  the  people  acting  along  the  lines  suggested  in  the  song  literally  came 
from  every  nation  and  every  way.  In  those  days,  more  so  than  now,  the  settler 
from  Jersey  was  a  marked  man  wherever  he  went.  The  flavor  of  the  sea  marsh, 
called  by  them  salt  meadows,  was  always  present  with  them,  and  the  tales  they 
told  of  big  mosquitoes  and  tall  "sparrow  grass"  (asparagus)  made  them  marked 
people.  And  old  Mr.  Johnson  was  no  exception  to  the  rule.  He  seems  to  have 
come  into  the  country  in  an  early  day,  for  my  father  mentions  him  as  residing 
on  "Jersey  street"  as  far  back  as  1843.  As  long  as  I  can  remember,  he  lived  in 
the  eastern  end  of  the  double  house  which  stood  up  in  the  -field  directly  west 
of  the  old  Harmony  schoolhouse.  Mr.  Johnson  was  an  inveterate  Mason  and 
always  wore  a  "plug"  hat  when  he  went  to  lodge. 

LAWRENCE   JOHNSON. 

Among  the  most  active  of  the  men  of  the  neighborhood  in  those  early  days, 
Lawrence  Johnson  stands  in  the  fore  front.  His  wife  was  Amanda  Pruitt,  a 
member  of  that  well  known  pioneer  family,  most  of  whom  lived  farther  west. 
During  the  war  Lawrence  and  his  good  wife  were  stanch  Unionists  and  any  one 
who  wore  the  blue  found  a  hearty  welcome  at  their  home.  I  well  remember  the 
occasion  of  Leonard  Ketchum's  and  Jane  Hayward's  marriage.  A  number  of 
the  boys  of  Company  F,  Twelfth  Illinois  Cavalry  were  home  on  furlough  just 
at  that  time.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  embraced  the  occasion  of  the  wedding  to 
give  the  couple  an  "infare"  and  at  the  same  time  give  the  other  soldier  boys  a 
dinner.  Those  who  were  present  on  this  occasion  were  the  bride  and  groom ; 
Daniel,  David  and  Edward  Ketchum,  Arthur  and  Mary  Hartwell,  Samuel  Gar- 
rett,  Cyrus  Hayward,  Jr.,  Charles  Hebron,  Henry  George,  Wallace  Clark,  Sarah 
Bister,  Rebecca  Ketchum,  Daniel  Palmer  and  family,  William  Armstrong,  of 
Alton,  Mrs.  Thomas  Ruyle,  William  and  James  Chism,  Polly  Ann  Barnard, 
Elfreth  and  Mrs.  Johnson,  Thomas  Lambert  and  wife,  Smith  Pruitt  and  Ly- 
man  L.  Palmer.  To  me,  a  soldier  was  next  to  divine,  and  as  Wallace  Clark  dis- 
played his  old  gray  campaign  hat,  with  a  real  rebel  bullet  hole  through  it,  it 
seemed  to  me  that  he  was  next  to  General  Grant  himself.  And  then  Dave 
Ketchum,  the  genuine  hero  of  the  neighborhood,  who  had  stood  "on  the  heights 
of  Shiloh"  and  had  a  real  rebel  bullet  hole  through  his  arm!  I  recall  that 
Henry  George  related  how  the  fellows  in  the  very  next  tent  to  his  at  the  time 


352  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

the  rebels  captured  Harper's  Ferry  were  blown  to  atoms  by  a  shell  which 
dropped  between  them.  Then  he  told  how  he  had  put  his  saddle  on  wrong  end 
to  and  had  ridden  to  safety,  with  one  boot  on  and  the  other  in  his  hand.  And] 
so  the  day  went  by  and  it  was  the  grandest  day  of  my  life. 

THE    HALCYON    DAYS    OF    YOUTH. 

In  the  early  days  the  road  meandered  northeasterly  across  the  open  prairie 
north  of  our  house  till  it  came  to  a  lane  which  was  between  the  farms  of  Law- 
rence Johnson  and  Robert  Fitzjarrell.  At  the  north  end  of  this  lane  and  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  east  of  the  present  home  of  Leonard  Ketchum,  on  the  south 
side  of  the  present  road  from  Kemper  to  Challacombe,  was  the  home  of  the 
Fitzjarrells.  Strange  as  it  may  seem,  these  are  men  whom  I  knew  in  the  real 
"halcyon  days  of  youth,"  before  I  was  four  years  of  age.  As  far  back  as  I  can 
remember  and  on  through  my  boyhood  days  there  lived  in  the  community  Rob- 
ert, William  and  Daniel  Fitzjarrell.  And  they  were  always  spoken  of  as  "Bob," 
"Bill"  and  "Dan  Jerels."  They  had  one  sister,  Phoebe  Ketchum-Cooper.  The 
Baptist  year  book  is  my  authority  for  spelling  the  name  as  I  have  it  in  this 
article.  Robert  Fitzjarrell  lived  in  a  little  log  house  and  owned  eighty  acres, 
lying  east  of  the  lane.  It  is  now  the  property  of  James  Chism.  After  the  war 
he  sold  his  farm  to  Lawrence  Johnson  and  moved  over  to  Greene  county.  Rev. 
Carey  Fitzjarrell,  a  son,  is  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  denomination.  William 
Fitzjarrell  lived  down  a  little  lane  just  east  of  Eli  Palmer's  house.  iWhen  Will- 
iam moved  away  I  do  not  know,  and  my  memory  regarding  Daniel  is  just  as 
frail. 

THE    KETCHUM     FAMILY. 

Ira  Ketchum  was  a  son  of  my  grandfather's  sister,  Rebecca,  and  his  wife 
was  Phoebe  Fitzjarrell.  Some  years  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  she  mar- 
ried Henry  Cooper,  and  one  son,  Eli,  was  born  to  this  union.  By  her  marriage 
with  Ira  Ketchum,  there  were  nine  children:  Alfred,  Leonard,  Daniel,  David, 
Edward,  Frank,  Rebecca,  Charles  and  Ira.  Alfred  married  a  daughter  of  David 
Hartwell.  Leonard  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Twelfth  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  mar- 
ried Jane  Hayward.  Daniel  married  Irene  Thurston,  and  during  the  war  served 
in  the  Thirty-second  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  David  also  enlisted  in  Col- 
onel John  Logan's  regiment,  the  Thirty-second,  which  was  recruited  largely  in 
Macoupin  county,  and  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  and  died  soon  after 
a  furlough  home  and  re-enlistment.  Edward  Ketchum  entered  the  army,  en- 
listing in  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-third  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  He 
afterward  married  Jennie  Haynes.  Of  the  other  children  there  was  one  girl, 
Rebecca,  who  married  James  Chism,  and  raised  a  large  family  of  children. 

A    HARD    NUT    TO    CRACK. 

Xow,  here  is  about  as  hard  a  nut  to  crack  as  ever  a  biographer  ran  across. 
To  tell  the  exact  truth  about  John  Coventry  will  be  to  do  his  memory  an  in- 
justice, and  yet  the  reader  cannot  get  an  adequate  conception  of  his  erratic 


SOUTH  SIDE  SQUARE.  OIRARD 


LIBRARY 

OF  1H£ 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  353 

character  without  entering  into  details.    But  "with  malice  toward  none  and  with 
charity  for  all"  I  shall  set  out  on  my  difficult  task. 

Away  back  in  the  days  when  deer  and  Indians  held  full  sway  over  all  the 
Illinois  prairies,  a  lone  white  man  built  his  fire  and  broiled  his  venison,  one 
night  on  the  site  of  the  now  beautiful  city,  Jacksonville.  So  far  as  he  knew, 
there  was  not  another  white  man  within  a  hundred  miles  of  him.  That  man  was 
John  Coventry.  Whither  he  traveled  after  that  or  how  he  came  at  last  to 
drift  into  this  community  and  settle  on  the  land  he  held  so  long,  adjoining  the 
present  town  site  of  Kemper  on  the  southeast,  is  more  than  I  ever  Knew. 

I  cannot  remember  when  "old  Coventry"  did  not  reside  in  the  little  dingy 
house,  which  was  surrounded  by  acres  and  acres  of  apple  trees.  He  must  have 
been  actuated  by  the  same  motive  which  governed  "Johnnie  Appleseed,"  the 
great  orchard  planting,  Ohio  pioneer.  The  Coventry  orchard  was  certainly  the 
most  extensive,  if  not  the  earliest  planted  in  that  whole  section.  He  was  erratic. 
For  long  years  he  had  lived  alone  in  the  wilderness,  hence,  he  did  not  take 
kindly  to  the  people,  as  the  encroachment  of  settlement  brought  his  neighbors 
closer  and  closer  to  him.  That  he  not  only  hoarded  his  gold  but  buried  it  about 
his  premises,  was  demonstrated  at  the  time  the  guerrillas  made  their  raid  on 
him  and  compelled  him  to  exhume  his  buried  treasures  for  them. 

In  his  dress  and  living  he  was  not  only  simple  and  economic  but  often 
unique  and  original.  His  clothing  often  comprised  merely  grain  sacks,  fastened 
about  his  limbs  and  body  with  hickory  withes.  He  was  the  first  man  in  the 
community  to  use  the  new,  popular  whole-wheat  floor.  He  antedated  Dr.  James 
Jackson  in  his  home  on  the  hillside  at  Danville,  New  York.  He  had  an  old 
coffee  mill  in  which  he  ground  the  wheat  and  made  biscuit  out  of  the  product. 

When  the  boys  of  Company  F,  Twelfth  Cavalry  were  enlisting  he  liberally 
dug  up  a  ten  dollar  gold  piece  for  each  of  them,  and  thus  he  displayed  a  far 
greater  spirit  of  patriotism  than  he  was  ever  given  credit  for,  as  it  must  have 
meant  much  for  him  to  part  with  two  or  three  hundred  dollars  in  gold  in  one 
day.  I  suspect  that  while  he  was  digging  in  the  trenches  to  find  his  buried 
treasure  for  the  bushwhackers,  he  wished  that  he  had  given  it  all  to  the  boys  in 
blue.  Eventually  he  moved  to  a  little  house  in  the  east  end  of  Summerville, 
where  he  died. 

THE  SILSBYS. 

The  Silsby  family,  as  a  whole,  is  associated  in  my  mind  with  the  John  Cov- 
entry place.  During  those  years  whert  the  Haywards  and  Silsbys  lived  together, 
Ansel  Hayward  kept  busy  at  carpentry  about  the  neighborhood  and  Frank 
Silsby  conducted  the  farm.  After  the  death  of  Ansel  Hayward  and  his  wife, 
the  Silsbys  rented  the  Coventry  place.  This  was  during  the  war.  The  family 
then  consisted  of  "Grandma"  Silsby  and  her  two  boys,  Frank  and  Albartus. 
The  oldest  Silsby  boy  was  Wilson  but  long  before  I  can  remember,  he  had 
married  Jane  Derr  and  moved  out  of  the  community.  Losing  his  wife,  Wilson 
afterward  married  Fannie  Chilton.  Frank  married  Rebecca  Palmer  and  with 
her  lived  for  some  time  on  a  farm  west  of  Carlinville.  Rebecca's  death  was 
sudden  and  untimely  but  in  the  course  of  time  Frank  married  Mrs.  Caroline 
Garrett,  the  widowed  daughter  of  his  old  time  friend  and  neighbor,  Cyrus  Hay- 


B54  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

ward.  Albartus  enlisted  in  the  Twelfth  Illinois  Cavalry,  becoming  a  inejnber 
of  Company  F  and  went  to  the  front.  His  constitution  was  frail  and  he  soon 
gave  up  his  young  life  to  the  cause. 

A  DISCIPLE  OF  HENRY  CLAY. 

It  is  probable  that  no  individual  family  in  the  whole  neighborhood  has  made 
and  left  a  more  lasting  impress  upon  the  community  than  has  the  Kemper  fam- 
ily. In  most  of  the  other  cases,  the  families  were  in  groups,  as  the  Carsons, 
Haynes,  Haywards  and  others,  but  here  is  a  family  that  stands  alone.  Single 
handed,  they  came  up  somewhere  from  the  southland.  I  always  thought  from 
Kentucky,  into  that  section  of  Illinois  in  those  far  away  pioneer  days.  During 
the  campaign  of  1860  W.  H.  H.  Kemper,  being  a  Kentuckian,  was  naturally  a 
disciple  of  Henry  Clay,  hence,  a  whig,  and,  as  I  now  recall,  a  relative  of  the 
then  famous  Colliers  of  Kentucky.  Mr.  Kemper  was  perforce  an  ardent  sup- 
porter of  the  Bell-Everett  ticket.  And  so,  in  his  enthusiasm,  Mr.  Kemper 
placed  a  big  bell  on  the  end  of  a  fifteen  or  twenty  foot  pole  and  planted  it  in 
the  ground  beside  his  front  gate.  When  he  would  see  any  of  his  neighbors 
going  by  he  would  run  out  and  shout,  "Hurrah  for  Bell  and  Everett"  and  be- 
gin to  shake  the  pole  vigorously.  The  big  bell  at  the  top  would  join  in  the 
huzza  in  no  uncertain  accents.  The  other  members  of  this  family  were  Mrs. 
Kemper  and  her  children,  Georgiana,  Kittie,  Mary,  Lucy,  Laura,  Poly,  Thomas, 
Henry,  Zachariah  and  William.  To  these  should  be  added  Peachy,  who  I  think 
died  young,  and  Allie  and  Tina.  The  latter  married  Charles  Dannells.  Georg- 
iana Kemper  married  William  Haven  of  String  Prairie,  and  Kittie  married 
Gideon  Carson.  Mary  Kemper  became  the  wife  of  Orin  Palmer,  and 
Lucy  married  Joseph  Carter.  Charles  Ruyle  secured  the  heart  and  hand  of 
Laura.  Xapoleon  and  Thomas  Kemper  enlisted  in  Company  F.  Twelfth  Illi- 
nois Cavalry.  Shortly  after  the  battle  at  Gettysburg  the  ladies  of  the  local  Union 
League  sent  a  letter  of  congratulation  and  encouragement  to  the  brave  boys  of 
Company  F.  and  it  was  Napoleon  (Poly)  Kemper  who  replied  to  it.  This 
letter  was  dated:  "In  Camp  on  Cedar  Run,  August  19,  1863."  Within  a  month 
from  the  writing  of  this  letter  both  boys  were  wounded  unto  death  while  on 
skirmish  duty.  Sad  was  the  day  when  the  swift  wings  of  the  lightning  brought 
to  us  the  direful  message  that  the  two  Kemper  boys  had  been  wounded  and  that 
"Poly"  was  dead.  How  shocked  the  whole  community  was !  And  every  family 
in  it  mourned  almost  as  it  would  have  done  had  a  member  of  its  own  house- 
hold been  taken.  After  "Poly's"  death  Tom  was  removed  to  the  hospital  at 
Alexandria,  Virginia,  where  the  best  of  care  was  afforded  him  and  improved 
rapidly  for  about  a  month  then  a  turn  for  the  worst  rapidly  developed  and 
almost  without  warning  he  had  gone  to  join  his  brother  in  that  sleep  which 
knows  no  waking.  During  the  winter  of  1863-4  Henry  Kemper,  with  a  man  by 
the  name  of  Joseph  Hooper,  James  Simpson  and  Dr.  N.  Jayne  and  family, 
struck  out  for  California.  He  subsequently  returned  and  married  Melissa, 
daughter  of  James  Haycraft.  Zach  Kemper  became  the  operator  and  agent 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  355 

of  Medora  and  married  the  daughter  of  Elder  Platt.     Will  Kemper  married 
a  daughter  of  George  B.  Harlan. 

• 

THERE    WERE     MANY    PALMERS. 

The  first  of  the  Palmer  family  to  emigrate  to  Illinois  was  the  youngest  of 
them,  William,  who  with  his  family  arrived  in  Greene  county  in  1830.  He  was 
born  June  20,  1799,  at  Sudbury,  Addison  county,  Vermont.  William  Palmer 
married  Mary  Barton  back  in  Vermont  in  1823.  In  the  fall  of  1832  he  and  his 
family  moved  into  the  domain  of  what  has  since  been  known  as  Palmer's 
Prairie.  Down  in  the  vicinity  of  Rockbridge  on  the  south  side  of  Macoupin 
creek  was  a  section  which  was  known  at  that  time  as  "Gopher  Hole."  Some 
time  before  this  George  Loper's  father  had  settled  there.  He  set  out  the  first 
peach  trees  that  were  ever  in  that  section,  on  that  place.  A  man  by  the  name 
of  Jack  Stubbins  owned  the  farm  when  the  Palmers  came  into  the  neighborhood 
and  from  him  William  purchased  the  place,  and  made  it  his  home  for  a  year  or 
so.  He  constructed  the  first  bridge  across  the  Macoupin  at  Rockbridge.  A  man 
by  the  name  of  Teegard  owned  and  conducted  the  water  power  grist  mill  there 
at  that  time. 

A  couple  of  years  later  William  erected  a  double  log  house  just  across  the 
road  east  of  the  present  Delaware  schoolhouse,  in  which  he  and  the  family  re- 
sided a  number  of  years.  Early  in  1845  he  began  the  erection  of  the  house  which 
still  stands  to  the  south  of  the  Delaware  schoolhouse.  It  was  while  getting  out 
the  rock  for  this  house  in  February,  1845,  that  an  accident  occurred  by  which 
he  almost  entirely  lost  his  eyesight.  Tlje  eldest  child  of  William  and  Mary 
Barton  Palmer  was  William  George,  who  was  a  resident  of  Kemper  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  January  16,  1911.  He  was  born  November  4, 
1823,  in  Addison  county,  Vermont,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1830  with  his  parents. 
The  second  son  of  William  and  Mary  Palmer  was  Henry  Robley.  He  was 
born  in  August,  1833,  and  died  November  i,  1891.  There  were  three  daughters 
born  to  William  and  Mary  Palmer :  Mary,  Harriet  and  Martha.  Mary  married 
John  Dannell;  Harriet  became  the  wife  of  Milo  Stowe,  and  died  in  1888; 
Martha  never  married  and  is  still  living.  The  second  one  of  the  Palmer  brothers 
who  emigrated  to  Illinois  was  Elias,  who  was  born  in  Sudbury,  Vermont,  in 
1797.  He  married  Thirza  Stowe.  They  came  to  Illinois  in  1836  and  settled  a 
short  time  after  their  arrived  on  the  site  of  the  present  home  of  Vilas  Dodge, 
a  mile  or  so  northwest  of  Kemper.  The  whole  family  remained  as  guests  of 
William  and  family  during  the  time  the  new  house  was  being  erected.  Elias 
died  February  23,  1863,  and  his  wife,  Thirza,  died  June  15,  1858.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Sarah  Ann.  Elias,  Olive,  Orin,  Rebecca,  Abigail  and  Dennis.  The 
eldest  son  of  Elias  was  Elias.  Jr.  He  was  born  in  1826  and  came  to  Illinois 
with  his  parents  in  1836.  He  married  Lovena,  a  sister  of  Luther  Palmer.  The 
second  son  of  Elias  and  Thirza  Palmer  was  Orin.  who  was  born  in  Addison 
county,  Vermont,  in  1832,  and  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents.  He  married' 
Mary  E.  Kemper  in  1858  and  to  them  were  born  three  children :  Ida,  Mignon 
and  Elmer.  The  two  younger  daughters  of  Elias  and  Thirza  Palmer  were  Olive 
and  Rebecca.  Olive  never  married  and  is  making  her  home  in  Kemper.  Re- 


356  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

becca  married  Frank  Silsby,  as  heretofore  mentioned.  Daniel  Cunningham 
Palmer  was  the  last  of  the  Palmer  brothers  to  come  to  Illinois.  He  was  born 
in  1785  and  grew  up  in  Vermont,  and  while  still  a  young  man  married  Roxanna 
Welch.  He  served  a  short  time  in  the  war  of  1812.  In  1816  he  emigrated  to 
Knox  county,  Ohio.  He  was  the  father  of  Luther  Palmer,  sire  of  the  writer  of 
this  article. 

During  the  month  of  November,  1843,  Daniel  Cunningham  and  family  set 
out  in  a  covered  wagon  to  make  the  long  journey  from  Ohio  to  Illinois.  They 
arrived  at  Delaware,  or  "Jersey,"  as  it  was  most  generally  called,  by  all  the 
Yankee  emigrants  and  their  relatives  back  east,  during  the  month  of  December, 
1843.  The  family  took  up  their  abode  with  William  Palmer,  but  did  not  re- 
main there  long,  however,  for  a  log  house  was  speedily  constructed  west  of 
William's  place,  a  half  mile  or  more,  in  which  the  family  soon  made  their  home. 
It  was  while  sinking  a  well  on  this  place  that  a  very  unusual  thing  occurred. 
Some  twenty  feet  or  more  deep  in  all  that  section  of  Illinois,  there  is  an  under- 
lying strata  known  as  "hard  pan."  It  is  a  conglomeration  and  is  about  as  hard 
as  rock  itself.  In  the  midst  of  this  bed  of  hard  pan  the  workmen  came  upon  a 
frog  snugly  nestled  in  a  little  narrow  space.  He  was  seemingly  as  dead  as  any- 
thing in  this  world  and  so  they  laid  him  on  a  rock  expecting  to  take  him  to  the 
house  as  a  great  curiosity  when  they  went  to  dinner.  But,  lo !  what  was  their 
surprise  when  they  went  to  look  for  the  frog  to  find  that  it  had  come  to  life 
under  the  revivifying  influences  of  the  midday  sun  and  hopped  off  into  the 
brush  and  was  forever  lost  to  them.  I  saw  the  exact  counterpart  of  that  in 
Chicago  a  few  years  ago  when  they  were  driving  a  great  water  main  ninety 
feet  below  the  surface.  There  a  frog  was  found  imbedded  in  the  solid  limestone. 
I  saw  him  and  he  was  alive. 

In  1846  Daniel  Palmer  and  his  family  moved  to  a  farm  east  of  Carlinville, 
in  what  was  then  known  as  the  Corr  neighborhood,  or  more  generally,  as  Honey 
Point.  While  living  there  and  during  the  fall  of  the  year,  a  daughter,  Wealthy 
Lucinda,  died.  This  practically  broke  up  the  home  and  he  moved  back  to  Jersey 
county.  He  soon  thereafter  died  at  the  home  of  his  grandson,  William,  in 
1847,  at  tne  a£e  of  sixty-one  years  and  lies  buried  in  the  Palmer  graveyard. 
The  children  of  Daniel  Cunningham  Palmer  were :  William,  David,  Sarah,  Rox- 
anna, Abigail,  Daniel  David,  Lydia,  Luther  Bateman,  Wealthy  Lucinda,  Lovena 
and  Loretta. 

The  only  daughter  of  William  Palmer,  the  New  Yorker,  and  Abigail  Cun- 
ningham, the  Quakeress,  who  resided  in  Illinois,  was  Rebecca.  She  was  born  in 
1794  and  at  about  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812  was  married  to  Ira  Ketchum. 
The  fruit  of  this  union  was  one  son,  Ira,  who,  with  his  mother,  came  to  Illi- 
nois with  her  brother  William  in  1830.  Later  on  when  William  moved  into  the 
Rockbridge  section,  they  came  with  him.  Ira  married  Phoebe  Fitzjarrell,  from 
.which  union  sprang  the  large  family  of  Ketchums.  He  died  in  1853  at  the  age 
of  fifty-seven 

Martha  J.  Larew,  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Larew,  with  her 
younger  brother  arid  sister  were  left  orphans  at  an  early  age  and  made  their 
home  with  their  uncle,  Johnson  Dannels,  until  grown.  While  in  school  at  Ches- 
terfield she  united  with  the  Congregational  church  in  1861  and  afterwards  be- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  357 

came  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  Delaware  Congregational  church.  She 
was  married  in  1862  to  Jacob  Hoffnagle,  who  died  in  1864.  In  1868  she  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Dennis  Palmer,  who  died  in  1893.  To  this  union  were 
born  four  children:  Stella,  wife  of  Percy  Cookson;  Earl  L.,  Ernest  D.  and 
Harriet  Elizabeth.  She  died  December  20,  1910,  at  the  residence  of  her  son-in- 
law,  Percy  Cookson,  at  Carlinville,  and  was  buried  at  Kemper,  in  the  Delaware 
cemetery. 

LUTHER   BATEMAN    PALMER. 

Luther  Bateman  Palmer  was  my  father  and  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio, 
in  1826.  He  was  seventeen  years  of  age  when  the  family  landed  in  Illinois, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  lived  for  many  years.  The  entire  time  that  he 
ever  attended  school  did  not  exceed  six  weeks,  but  he  was  not  handicapped  very 
much  on  that  account.  He  was  perfect  master  of  the  three  R's  and  could  read 
and  'rite  and  cipher  with  the  best  of  them.  In  fact,  I  am  sure  there  have  been 
but  few  men  in  all  that  whole  section  who  excelled  him  in  reading  and  'rithmetic, 
and  as  for  'riting,  his  letters  to  me  now,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five,  are  marvels 
of  composition  in  every  respect. 

It  was  not  long  until  he  set  out  to  do  business  on  his  own  account,  working 
by  the  month  for  Benjamin  Sanders,  and  for  the  whole  of  a  year  he  was  paid 
the  stupendous  sum  of  $120.  Strange  to  say,  out  of  this  small  wage,  he  was 
able  to  save  enough  to  make  the  first  payment  on  his  half  of  the  quarter  section 
which  he  and  his  brother  Daniel  bought,  lying  south  of  the  old  house,  and  so 
it  was  that  he  got  his  start  in  life. 

In  1846  he  farmed  the  Samuel  D.  Brainerd  place,  just  at  the  turn  of  the 
road  north  of  L.  B.  Palmer's  house,  and  evidently  cultivated  the  acquaintance 
of  the  eldest  daughter,  as  well  as  the  corn  crop  he  had  in,  for  we  find  it  re- 
corded that  he  and  Louisa  A.  Brainerd  were  married  on  the  29th  day  of  Oc- 
tober, the  year  following.  The  marriage  ceremony  was  performed  by  the  Rev. 
Elihu  Palmer,  a  brother  of  the  late  Senator  John  M.  Palmer.  Once  I  had  oc- 
casion to  go  down  from  Chicago  to  Springfield  to  get  a  letter  of  introduction 
from  General  Palmer  and  he  began  it  thus :  "Dear  Sir : — This  will  introduce  to 
you  Mr.  Lyman  L.  Palmer,  whose  father  I  have  known  for  the  past  fifty  years." 

My  mother  died  in  1853  ar)d  a  year  later  father  paid  a  visit  to  his  old  home  in 
Ohio  and  there  met  and  married  Anna  Rebecca  Smith.  To  this  union  there 
were  born  six  children :  Vesta,  Clarence,  Walter,  Lucius,  Annie  and  Sabin. 

As  the  years  sped  on  he  prospered  and  other  acres  were  added  to  the  original 
quarter  section  until  at  the  last  he  owned  six  hundred  and  forty  acres,  all  told, 
when  he  went  to  California  in  1869.  At  that  time  his  health  failed  him,  and 
renting  his  farm,  he  took  up  his  residence  at  Reo  Vista  with  his  family.  In  a 
short  time  thereafter  he  allied  his  business  interests  with  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Charles  Pine,  who  was  proprietor  of  a  general  store,  the  name  of  the  firm  being 
Pine  &  Palmer.  This  man  Pine  subsequently  decamped  with  all  the  available 
funds  of  the  concern,  leaving  my  father  with  a  large  shortage  of  $84,000,  to 
meet.  Most  of  it  represented  Pine's  speculations. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 
THE  TOWNSHIPS. 

THIS   CHAPTER   IS    A    LONG   ONE   AND   SPEAKS    OF   THE    TWENTY-SIX    TOWNSHIPS    OP 

THE    COUNTY HAMLETS,    VILLAGES,    TOWNS     AND    CITIES FIRST    SETTLERS     IN 

THE  VARIOUS  LOCALITIES FOUNDING   AND   GROWTH   OF  THE  TRADING   POINTS — 

HILYARD  TOWNSHIP. 

Hilyard  township  derived  its  name  from  the  Hilyard  family  who  settled  here 
about  1832.  The  township  is  located  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  county  and 
is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Polk  township,  on  the  west  by  Shipman,  on  the 
south  by  Bunker  Hill  and  on  the  east  by  Gillespie  township.  The  surface  is 
beautiful  undulating  prairie  and  is  partially  drained  by  small  tributaries  of  Ma- 
coupin  creek.  The  Chicago  &  Alton  railroad  enters  the  township  on  section 
3,  and  crossing  the  northwestern  portion,  passes  out  on  section  19. 

David  Coop  claimed  the  distinction  of  being  not  only  the  first  settler  in 
this  township  but  also  the  first  in  the  county.  He  erected  a  log  cabin  on  a 
stream  near  the  central  part  of  the  township  and  the  creek,  now  known  as 
Coop's  creek,  was  named  in  his  honor. 

In  1817  John  Powell  and  Abram  Fulk  came  here  with  their  families,  settling 
in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  township.  In  1818  Thomas  Smith  located  in  the 
southwest  part  of  the  township  near  a  small  stream,  which  took  his  name.  In 
1832  William  Jolley  and  Richard  Skaggs  located  in  the  northwest  part  of  the 
township. 

In  1834  fifteen  families,  or  seventy-five  persons  came  here,  among  whom  were 
Gray,  Pruitt,  Hilyard,  Maxwell,  Leyarley,  Jolley,  Ray,  Skagg,  Lemey,  Miller 
and  Thomas. 

Most  of  the  early  settlers  were  Methodists  and  old  school  Baptists  and  as 
early  as  1820  a  church  of  the  latter  denomination  was  organized  by  John  Powell. 
Rev.  William  Jones  was  the  first  preacher.  Until  1854  services  were  held  in  the 
homes  of  the  settlers  and  at  that  time  a  church  was  built. 

A  Methodist  society  was  organized  at  the  home  of  William  Jolley  in  1833 
and  Rev.  Meldrum  became  the  first  pastor.  In  1851  the  Presbyterians  formed  a 
society  and  Rev.  Platt  became  the  pastor.  In  this  same  year  the  Missionary 
Baptists  also  formed  a  society  with  Rev.  Hopper  as  the  pastor,  while  in  March, 
1853,  the  United  Baptists  organized,  with  Rev.  Jacob  Rhoads  as  pastor.  In 
1854  the  latter  society  built  a  church  at  a  cost  of  $1,000.  In  1855  the  Missionary 
Baptists  built  a  church  at  a  cost  of  $800;  in  1856  a  Presbyterian  church  was 

358 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  359 

erected  at  a  cost  of  $1,50x3,  while  in  1858  the  Methodist  church  was  built  at 
a  cost  of  $1,500. 

The  first  schoolhouse  was  built  in  1837,  near  the  place  of  the  first  settle- 
ment, at  a  cost  of  $10.  The  first  teacher  was  Aaron  Leyarley. 

The  first  postoffice  was  established  in  1846  with  Alfred  Ellet  as  the  first 
postmaster. 

Dr.  C.  Murphy,  who  located  here  in  1854,  was  the  first  practicing  physician. 

The  first  mill  was  built  by  David  Coop.  It  was  run  with  horse  power  and  it 
was  capable  of  grinding  but  eight  or  ten  bushels  of  corn  per  day.. 

The  first  entries  of  land  were  as  follows :  Pleasant  Lauray,  eighty  acres  on 
section  12,  December  15,  1830;  Henry  D.  Rhea,  eighty  acres  on  section  12,  Au- 
gust 2O,  1831;  Benjamin  F.  Edwards,' eighty  acres  on  section  i,  October  18, 
1831. 

PLAINVIEW. 

The  village  of  Plainview  is  located  on  the  line  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  rail- 
road and  lies  on  a  portion  of  sections  4  and  9,  Hilyard  township.  It  took  its 
name  from  the  fact  that  it  stands  on  an  eminence,  commanding  a  good  view  of 
the  surrounding  district.  It  was  laid  out  in  1853. 

BUNKER    HILL    TOWNSHIP. 

The  site  on  which  the  present  town  of  Bunker  Hill  is  located  was  once  a 
prairie,  known  as  Wolf  ridge,  from  the  fact  that  it  was  frequented  by  wolves. 
The  earliest  inhabitants  of  this  section  were  the  Peoria,  Kickapoo  and  Win- 
nebago  Indians,  who  had  a  camping  ground  northeast  of  the  present  town  of 
Bunker  Hill.  In  1826  the  last  of  these  tribes  left  here  and  moved  farther  west. 

The  first  entry  of  land  of  which  we  have  any  record  was  made  by  William 
Jones.  He  secured  eighty  acres  on  section  33,  on  the  3ist  of  July,  1827.  How- 
ard Finley  entered  eighty  acres  on  section  21,  January  25,  1830,  and  Alexander 
Conley  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  29,  March  17,  1830. 

Among  the  earliest  settlers  here  was  John  Cooper,  a  native  of  Tennessee, 
who  built  a  house  on  section  28,  and  here  developed  a  farm.  In  the  year  1825 
Howard  Finley  and  Daniel  Branscomb  settled  on  the  east  side  of  the  east  fork 
of  Wood  river,  and  as  above  stated,  the  former  entered  land  here  in  1830.  Mr. 
Finley  was  a  native  of  Tennessee.  He  built  a  cabin  on  his  land  and  later 
erected  a  more  modern  dwelling  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  21,  in 
which  he  made  his  home  for  many  years.  His  death  occurred  in  Greene  county, 
this  state. 

The  year  1827  witnessed  the  arrival  of  James  Breden,  who  was  the  first 
justice  of  the  peace  in  the  township,  holding  the  office  for  more  than  twenty 
years.  Simeon  Jones  may  also  be  classed  among  the  first  settlers  in  this  township. 
He  was  born  and  reared  in  Madison  county,  this  state,  and  after  coming  to 
Bunker  Hill  township,  served  for  many  years  as  school  treasurer. 

In  1830  Jonathan  L.  Wood  also  settled  here,  as  did  also  Benjamin  Davis, 
and  his  sons,  Jefferson,  Isaac,  Alfred  and  David.  They  came  to  this  state  from 
Tennessee  but  had  formerly  lived  in  North  Carolina. 


360  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

James  Wood  settled  here  in  1831,  establishing  his  home  on  section  30.  His 
sons,  Samuel,  David  B.  and  James  E.,  eventually  became  prominent  residents  of 
this  section  of  the  county. 

William  McPike,  a  Tennesseean  by  birth,  came  here  in  1831  and  became 
a  prominent  citizen.  His  death  occurred  after  a  residence  here  of  many  years. 
Mrs.  Millie  Bayless  and  her  sons,  Reese,  John,  George  arid  Daniel,  came  here  in 
1831.  Reese  and  John  were  prominently  connected  with  the  old  militia,  the 
former  holding  the  position  of  colonel,  while  the  latter  attained  the  rank  of 
adjutant.  Both  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  war. 

In  that  locality  known  as  Corneilson  mound,  or  sometimes  called  "Tickey" 
mound,  on  section  29,  the  first  settlers  were  Daniel  Littrel,  Alexander  Conley, 
John  Murphy,  Charles  Collyer  and  Finley  and  Moses  Jones. 

In  the  vicinity  of  the  Springfield  road  the  first  settlements  were  made  by 
William,  Isaac,  Alfred,  James  and  Ephraim  Wood,  Anthony  Linder,  George 
Rowland,  Elijah  Lincoln,  Dr.  Budden,  Samuel  Buell  and  Charles  Goodnight. 
Dr.  Budden  was  the  first  man  to  practice  medicine  in  the  township. 

In  1833  Messrs.  Tuttle  and  Lincoln  laid  out  a  town  two  miles  south  of  the 
present  site  of  Bunker  Hill  and  named  the  place  Lincoln.  However,  a  log 
cabin  and  a  frame  house  marked  the  farthest  progress  to  which  the  town  ever 
attained.  This  was  later  converted  into  a  farm  by  J.  V.  Hopper. 

In  1833  a  postoffice  was  established  and  called  Lincoln,  the  first  postmaster 
being  Anthony  Linder.  He  was  succeeded  by  a  Mr.  Cook,  while  in  1837  Samuel 
Buell  took  charge  of  the  office.  In  November  of  the  latter  year  the  postoffice 
was  transferred  to  Bunker  Hill.  Nathaniel  Phillips  was  the  first  postmaster 
appointed  after  the  removal  of  the  office  to  Bunker  Hill.  Josiah  Richards  acted 
as  assistant.  In  1837  a  postoffice  was  also  established  in  Woodburn. 

Moses  Jones  built  the  first  mill  in  the  township  on  section  33,  on  the  east 
side  of  Wood  river.  It  was  operated  by  ox  power.  Dr.  Budden  shortly  after- 
ward erected  the  second  mill  on  the  prairie,  a  mile  southwest  of  Bunker  Hill. 

The  first  schoolhouse  was  erected  on  section  21  but  it  was  later  moved  to 
section  22.  A  Mr.  Richardson  was  the  first  teacher  and  he  was  succeeded  by 
Josiah  B.  Harris.  In  1831  a  schoolhouse  was  erected  on  section  20,  on  land 
belonging  to  John  T.  Wood,  John  Wilson,  Jesse  Wood  and  Aaron  Leyerley 
were  among  the  earliest  teachers  of  the  township. 

.:  '  Elder  William  Jones,  a  Baptist,  preached  the  first  sermon  in  the  schoolhouse 
which  stood  on  section  21.  Alexander  Conley  was  the  first  resident  minister  in 
the  township.  Rev.  Gimlin  was  also  a  pioneer  minister  here.  He  was  also  of 
the  Baptist  faith.  The  first  church  was  erected  by  the  "hard  shell"  Baptists  on 
section  33,  while  the  second  in  the  township  was  built  by  the  Congregational 
people  at  Woodburn. 

The  first  couple  to  be  married  in  the  township  was  Finley  Jones  and  Mary 
Conley  and  the  second  was  Daniel  Branscomb  and  a  Miss  Gregg.  John  Finley 
was  the  first  child  born  in  Bunker  Hill  township. 

BUNKER     HILL. 

The  city  of  Bunker  Hill  lies  in  th  eastern  part  of  Bunker  Hill  township, 
which  is  one  of  the  southern  tier  of  townships.  In  March,  1836,  Messrs.  True 


EVANGELICAL   Ll'THKlUX   CHURCH 
MT.  OLIVE 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  361 

and  Tilden  employed  Luke  Knowlton  to  lay  out  and  plat  the  town.  This  was 
only  seven  years  after  the  first  settlement  was  made  in  the  township.  Mr.  True 
set  out  the  first  tree,  a  locust,  in  the  town,  and  he,  with  Mr.  Tilden  at  once 
commenced  the  erection  of  a  hotel,  which  later  became  a  part  of  the  Richards' 
block.  In  the  summer  of  1837  Mr.  True  enlarged  his  hotel  and  in  the  succeeding 
fall  Josiah  Richards,  who  had  come  here  from  Boston,  purchased  the  goods  in 
the  store  that  had  been  opened  by  Mr.  True.  In  1838  Mr.  True  retired  from 
the  hotel  business  and  N.  H.  Flanagan,  from  New  Jersey,  became  proprietor. 

Dr.  Ebenezer  Howell  settled  in  the  town  in  the  spring  of  1837  and  for  many 
years  was  the  only  physician  practicing  here.  His  son  George  was  the  first 
child  born  in  the  town. 

In  the  spring  of  1839  J.  W.  Cummings,  G.  Parmenter,  Charles  Burnham,  R. 
Califf,  Nathaniel  Burnham,  D.  E.  Pettingill  and  Joseph  and  Edward  Burton  set- 
tled in  the  town  and  vicinity.  John  A.  Pettingill  arrived  in  April,  1839,  and 
conducted  the  first  nursery  in  the  township.  He  also  became  one  of  the  early 
schoolteachers  of  this  district.  Charles  Johnson,  came  here  in  May,  1839,  from 
Medford,  Massachusetts.  S.  H.  Davis,  A.  B.  Davis,  R.  Ridgeley,  James  Hamil- 
ton, I.  Southworth  and  Charles  Cavender  were  early  settlers  here.  Francis 
N.  Burnham  settled  northeast  of  the  town  and  taught  the  first  school  in  the 
town  of  Bunker  Hill.  His  marriage  to  Miss  Harriet  Phillips  was  the  first  con- 
summated in  Bunker  Hill. 

In  1840  Judge  P.  C.  Huggins  moved  here  from  Woodburn,  where  he  had 
conducted  a  mercantile  establishment,  and  purchased  the  store  here  from  Josiah 
Richards.  For  many  years  he  was  the  only  merchant  in  the  town.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1847,  John  A.  Pettingill  opened  the  second  store. 

SOME    FIRST   THINGS    IN    BUNKER    HILL. 

The  nearest  sawmill  to  Bunker  Hill  was  on  the  Cahokia,  north  of  Edwards- 
ville.  The  first  flour  used  in  the  new  hotel  came  from  Carlinville.  The  first 
sermon  preached  at  Bunker  Hill  was  by  Elder  Kimball  from  Upper  Alton. 

ft 

CENTENNIAL   HISTORY. 

John  A.  Pettingill,  who  established  the  second  store  in  Bunker  Hill,  in  his 
Centennial  History  wrote  the  following: 

"The  4th  of  July,  1839,  was  the  first  anniversary  of  'the  day  we  celebrate' 
ever  observed  in  due  and  ancient  form  in  this  township.  The  day  preceding 
was  all  bustle  in  securing  and  raising  a  liberty  pole  and  making  a  leafy  bower  to 
cover  the  extended  tables.  The  glorious  fourth  ushered  in  a  terribly  hot  day, 
but  despite  the  heat,  the  whole  community  turned  out,  some  sixty  souls.  F. 
Burnham  was  master  of  ceremonies  and  M.  H.  Flanagan  orator  of  the  day. 
Dr.  Ebenezer  Howell  read  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  H.  B.  A.  Tap- 
pen  made  some  cogent  remarks.  After  dinner  J.  W.  Cummings  called  the  as- 
semblage to  order  and  read  the  toasts.  The  ground  upon  which  the  gathering 
assembled  was  that  south  of  Huggins  block,  now  covered  with  stores.  The 
political  campaign  of  1840  brought  the  democrats  to  Bunker  Hill  and  the  whigs 


362  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

assembled  at  Woodburn,  and  each  celebrated  the  4th  of  July.  The  former  were 
presided  over  by  M.  H.  Flanagan,  and  Rev.  Arnold,  of  Alton,  orator.  The 
whigs  listened  to  Abraham  Lincoln,  John  Hogan  and  Judge  Davis. 

"As  early  as  1834  a  military  company  was  organized  with  John  Wilson  as 
captain,  succeeded  by  Washington  Bilt  and  afterwards  by  Wiley  Breden.  The 
first  muster  in  this  township  occurred  on  the  2jth  of  September,  1839.  A  regi- 
mental organization  existed  in  southern  Macoupin,  with  R.  Bayless  as  colonel, 
and  P.  C.  Huggins  as  major.  The  muster  in  question  was  the  stated  parade 
of  the  batallion  which  made  its  headquarters  at  Bunker  Hill.  The  Bunker  Hill 
company  mustered  forty  men.  Captain  Van  Tyle  was  in  command." 

THE  PRESENT  BUNKER  HILL. 

The  little  city  of  Bunker  Hill  is  picturesque  in  its  beauty  and  nicely  located 
upon  elevated  grounds,  some  300  feet  above  St.  Louis,  and  distant  therefrom 
about  forty  miles.  It  is  reached  by  the  Cleveland,  Cincinnati,  Chicago  &  St. 
Louis  (Big  Four)  railroad. 

As  a  place  of  residence  Bunker  Hill  has  always  been  an  attractive  and  fa- 
vorite place  on  account  of  its  beauty,  enterprise,  intelligence  of  its  people,  and 
the  school  and  church  advantages  it  affords.  It  has  many  churches  and  a  public 
library  supported  by  the  city,  containing  between  four  and  five  thousand  books 
and  periodicals.  There  are  a  number  of  lodges  and  societies,  chief  among  them 
being  Charter  Oak  Lodge,  No.  258,  I.  O.  O.  F.;  Bunker  Hill  Lodge,  No.  151, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Macoupin  Lodge,  No.  230,  Ancient  Order  United  Workmen; 
Bunker  Hill  Camp,  No.  185,  Modern  Woodmen  of  America;  Maple  Camp,  No. 
1727,  Royal  Neighbors;  Bunker  Hill  Court  of  Honor,  No.  261;  Hubbard  Post, 
No.  721,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  There  is  also  the  Nellie  Custis  Chapter, 
Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution. 

The  Bunker  Hill  Fire  Company  No.  i  has  a  large  membership  and  holds  a 
leading  place  among  the  volunteer  fire  companies  of  the  state  of  Illinois. 

IMPROVEMENTS. 

About  1901  the  city  built  an  electric  light  plant,  which  furnishes  light  to  its 
people  in  their  homes  and  on  the  public  thoroughfares.  Its  newspaper,  the 
Gazette-News,  is  ably  edited  by  J.  H.  Truesdale.  There  are  two  banks,  many 
excellent  stores,  an  opera  house,  fine  halls,  well-kept  hotels,  a  coal  mine,  a  flour- 
ing mill,  wagon  works,  and  other  industries  in  this  energetic  and  flourishing 
community. 

DIMINISHED    POPULATION. 


While  Bunker  Hill  has  held  its  own  in  a  business  sense,  has  erected  new  and 
modern  buildings  for  mercantile  purposes  and  residences,  yet  it  has  not  kept 
pace  with  some  of  its  neighbors  in  the  matter  of  growth  and  population,  for  it 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  363 

appears  that  in  1890  the  town  of  Bunker  Hill  had  1,269  inhabitants,  while  the 
census  of  1910  gives  the  place  only  1,046. 


LINCOLN    MONUMENT. 

\ 

One  of  the  chief  and  attractive  adornments  of  Bunker  Hill  which  imme- 
diately catches  the  eye  of  the  visitor  as  he  enters  the  business  portion  of  the 
town  is  the  Lincoln  monument.  At  the  intersection  of  its  two  principal  streets, 
in  the  center  thereof,  was  erected  in  1904,  and  unveiled  with  fitting  ceremonies, 
a  magnificent  statue  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  the  great  emancipator,  by  Company 
B,  First  Missouri  Cavalry.  The  statue  of  the  martyred  president  is  life  size 
and  cast  in  bronze.  The  pose  is  that  of  the  orator  addressing  an  assembly, 
with  one  hand  extended.  It  stands  upon  a  granite  pedestal,  about  six  feet  in 
height,  and  with  the  known  physical  proportions  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  this  would  make 
the  object  of  art  and  its  support  about  twelve  feet  high. 

MILITARY    ACADEMY. 

On  December  22d,  1857,  a  meeting  was  held  ''to  take  measures  looking  to 
the  establishment  of  an  academic  school.''  E.  Harlan  was  chairman  and  H.  M. 
Hutchinson,  secretary.  The  following  committees  were  appointed:  To  solicit 
subscriptions,  A.  W.  Ellet,  P.  C.  Huggins,  James  Weller,  T.  J.  Van  Dorn;  on 
building,  E.  Howell,  G.  C.  Mack,  G.  Parmentei',  J.  A.  Delano.  Subsequently 
Dr.  Hopper  was  substituted  for  Mr.  Delano  and  E.  H.  Davis  was  added  to  the 
committee.  Subscriptions  to  stock  at  $25  per  share  were  at  once  solicited  and 
in  January,  1858,  the  subscriptions  amounted  to  $7,075,  whereupon,  J.  W.  Cum- 
mings,  A.  J.  Coates  and  J.  F.  Vandeventer  were  appointed  a  committee  to  secure 
plans,  etc.  The  amount  of  capital  stock  was  fixed  at  $25.  It  was  provided  that 
the  academy  "should  not  be  sectarian  or  denominational,  and  to  promote  this 
object  not  more  than  one-third  of  the  trustees  shall  at  any  time  be  members  of 
any  one  religious  denomination."  Following  officers  were  then  elected:  Presi- 
dent, A.  W.  Ellet ;  trustees,  P.  C.  Huggins,  W.  Gill,  Charles  Parmenter,  E.  How- 
ell,  J.  S.  Flanagan  and  J.  A.  Pettingill.  In  the  following  January,  Mr.  Pet- 
tingill  resigned  and  H.  W.  Burton  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy.  J.  W.  Cum- 
mings  became  the  treasurer.  P.  C.  Huggins  donated  a  lot  for  the  building,  which 
was  constructed  of  brick,  three  stories  high  and  very  attractive  in  its  details. 
The  cost  was  $19,000.  The  school  opened  in  1859  anc'  tne  success  of  the  innova- 
tion became  evident  when  the  enrollment  of  pupils  showed  the  number  to  be 
193.  Then  on  came  the  Civil  war,  when  Professor  Smith  and  thirty-nine  pupils 
entered  the  army  at  the  first  call.  Others  soon  followed  and  it  became  necessary 
to  close  the  institution.  The  building  was  then  leased  to  the  district  as  a  public 
school  and  was  occupied  for  that  purpose  until  1870.  In  the  year  last  above 
mentioned,  improvements  were  made  upon  the  building  and  it  was  again  put  to 
use  for  its  legitimate  purpose.  S.  L.  Stiver  succeeded  A.  W.  Ellet  as  head  master 
of  the  school  and  remained  in  that  position  until  July,  1910,  his  death  occurring 


364  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

at  that  time.     He  was  succeeded  by  the  present  incumbent,   Rev.   William   D. 
Marburger. 

ADVANTAGES  OF  THE  SCHOOL. 

The  select  character  of  this  school,  the  limited  number  of  cadets,  its  home- 
like features,  the  attention  given  to  the  prevention  of  bad  habits,  and  to  the  for- 
mation of  good  character  and  the  special  care  taken  for  the  safety,  health  and 
happiness  of  all,  render  the  academy  an  unexcelled  institution  for'  smaller,  as 
well  as  larger  boys.  The  smaller  boys  have  the  special  care  of  the  superintend- 
ent and  an  assistant  teacher  is  always  on  the  same  floor  in  the  dormitory  with 
them. 

CHARACTER  OF  THE   SCHOOL. 

This  is  a  home  school.  No  vicious  boys  are  enrolled,  only  boys  of  known 
good  character  are  admitted.  The  design  of  the  academy  is  to  meet  the  wants 
of  the  parents  who  wish  for  their  sons  the  benefit  of  careful  and  systematic 
instruction  and  training  in  everything  necessary  to  their  success  and  welfare  as 
men.  It  provides  a  good  home  in  which  cadets  receive  all  the  attention  and 
care  that  are  given  boys  in  any  enlightened  and  well  regulated  households.  It 
prepares  for  business,  for  college  or  university,  and  for  government  schools. 
It  provides  for  the  physical,  social  and  moral  development  of  all  its  students, 
gives  training  in  gymnastics,  athletics  and  military  drills.  It  affords  its  grad- 
uates a  sufficient  training  in  military  science  to  enable  them  to  perform  official 
duty  as  leaders  of  the  militia  in  time  of  peace  and  to  organize  and  train  recruits 
in  time  of  war.  This  includes,  bayonet  and  sabre  drill,  the  new  Butts'  United 
States  army  rifle  drill  and  some  artillery  drills. 

SCHOOL   GROUNDS. 

The  academy  has  a  campus  rarely  equaled  and  seldom  surpassed.  The  cen- 
tral building  is  three  stories  high,  heated  by  steam  and  lighted  by  electricity. 
Stiver  Hall  is  a  similar,  but  smaller,  building  on  the  campus.  Belt  Hall,  a  beau- 
tiful colonial  residence,  was  opened  in  the  fall  of  1911.  There  is  a  gymnasium 
and  main  dormitory,  school  rooms,  reading  rooms  and  library.  Plans  have  been 
completed  for  extensive  new  buildings,  the  ground  for  which  was  broken  August 
i,  1911.  It  is  anticipated  these  improvements  will  cost  about  $100,000  and  be 
completed  within  two  years. 

In  the  year  1910  this  school  gave  instruction  to  56  pupils.  There  are  already 
enrolled  for  1911,  75.  The  ages  of  the  boys  range  from  twelve  to  eighteen  years 
and  they  come  from  eighteen  states  and  territories. 

• 

BUNKER    HILL    CEMETERY. 

Bunker  Hill  has  a  beautiful  cemetery,  laid  out  on  high,  rolling  ground,  with- 
in the  corporate  limits  of  the  town.  The  records  show  that  at  about  1840  Moses 
True  donated  a  half  acre  of  ground  for  cemetery  purposes.  In  June,  1852,  a 
committee  was  organized  for  the  formation  of  a  constitution  and  by-laws  and 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  365 

a  cemetery  association  was  established,  with  C.  D.  Marsh,  J.  A.  Pettingill  and 
J.  Pierson  as  trustees.  J.  A.  Delano  was  elected  as  secretary  and  treasurer. 
A  subscription  paper  was  circulated,  with  unanticipated  success  and  three  acres 
of  land  were  purchased  and  added  to  that  donated  by  Mr.  True.  This  ground 
was  fenced  and  platted  the  same  year.  March  4,  1861,  the  association  was  or- 
ganized under  the  state  law,  and  the  following  officers  elected :  J.  A.  Pettingill, 
president;  J.  F.  Cummings,  T.  J.  Van  Dorn,  Richard  Ridgely,  directors,  and 
J.  A.  Delano,  secretary  and  treasurer.  From  time  to  time  other  additions  have 
been  made  to  the  ground. 

Among  the  many  handsome  ornaments  attracting  the  eye  of  the  visitor  in 
this  "silent  city  of  the  dead"  is 

THE  SOLDIERS'  MONUMENT. 

This  memorial  shaft  is  of  hard,  gray  sandstone,  and  stands  29.4  feet  high. 
It  was  unveiled,  February  14,  1867.  The  cost  of  the  monument  was  $1,773. 
Of  this  sum,  $1,215  was  subscribed  by  individuals,  $200  donated  by  the  ceme- 
tery association,  and  the  remainder  was  made  up  by  sociables,  literary  exhibi- 
tions and  donations  by  secret  societies  and  the  like. 

BANKS. 

Belt  Brothers  &  Company's  bank  was  founded  in  1881.  Its  declared  capital 
is  $10,000,  deposits  $126,000,  resources,  $120,000.  J.  H.  Belt,  Jr.,  is  president 
and  cashier. 

Bumann  &  Drew's  private  bank  was  founded  in  1892.  Its  deposits  are 
$124,000,  resources,  $120,000. 

WOODBURN. 

Woodburn,  which  is  located  in  the  western  part  of  Bunker  Hill  township, 
was  named  in  honor  of  the  Wood  family,  who  were  early  settlers  of  this  locality. 
It  was  laid  out  in  1834  by  B.  F.  Edwards,  Benjamin  Stephenson  acting  as  the 
surveyor. 

The  first  dwelling  in  the  town  was  erected  by  Rev.  Elijah  Dodson,  a  pioneer 
minister  of  the  Baptist  church.  He  came  to  Macoupin  county  in  1835  and  on  the 
5th  of  April,  of  that  year,  moved  into  his  new  dwelling.  His  wife,  Mrs.  Nancy 
Dodson,  was  the  first  woman  to  live  in  the  town.  She  died  in  1877,  while  his 
death  occurred  in  1859. 

E.  J.  Miner  erected  the  first  store  building  in  the  town.  Daniel  Luttrel 
and  Enos  Grandy  also  built  dwellings  in  1835,  and  in  the  same  year  Dr.  Ed- 
wards put  up  a  hotel,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  traveling  public.  James  and 
William  Hamilton  were  the  first  proprietors  of  the  hotel.  Some  of  the  first 
buildings  in  the  town  were  erected  by  James  and  Robert  R.  Tompkins  who  came 
here  in  1835  from  Virginia. 

In  1836  Dr.  Edwards  and  John  Adams  commenced  building  the  first  steam 
mill  in  the  county  but  before  it  was  completed  sold  their  interests  to  Moses 


366  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Jones,  who  later  sold  it  to  a  Mr.  Mudge,  who  finished  the  sawmill.  In  1841  T.  J. 
Van  Dorn  purchased  the  mill,  put  in  a  large  engine  and  two  run  of  burrs.  In 
1840  Daniel  Luttrel  had  built  a  mill  for  grinding  corn,  the  motive  power  being 
horses,  mules,  oxen  or  anything  that  could  be  hitched  to  it.  This  served  the 
people  of  this  section  until  Mr.  Van  Dorn  erected  his  steam  mill. 

In  1837  the  Perry  brothers  erected  a  blacksmith  shop  but  it  is  not  known 
whether  they  or  Alfred  Davis  operated  the  first  blacksmith  shop. 

The  first  church  was  organized  by  the  Baptist  denomination  on  the  24th  of 
June,  1835,  with  eleven  charter  members.  The  pulpit  was  supplied  by  Elders 
Starkweather  and  Dodson  for  about  one  year,  when  the  latter  was  made  the 
regular  pastor  of  the  church.  In  1842  plans  were  laid  for  the  erection  of  a 
church,  which  was  completed  and  occupied  the  following  year.  In  1867  an  addi- 
tion was  built  to  the  church. 

The  Congregational  church  was  organized  in  1838,  with  forty  members.  Rev. 
Robert  Blake  served  as  its  pastor  until  his  death  in  1842.  In  1838  the  congrega- 
tion built  a  house  of  worship  which  served  not  only  for  this  congregation  but  for 
congregations  of  various  denominations,  as  well  as  for  school  purposes  and  as 
a  public  hall.  In  1843  the  Baptist  people  built  a  house  of  worship  and  the 
Methodists  were  organized  into  a  society  and  erected  a  church  about  that  time. 

The  first  schoolhouse  in  the  town  was  built  in  1852. 

In  1836  Messrs.  Moore  and  Kellum  laid  off  eighty  acres  in  town  lots  as  an 
addition  to  the  town  of  Woodburn,  and  devoted  a  large  block  to  a  public  square. 

The  mail  route  between  Alton  and  Carlinville  passed  through  Woodburn, 
the  first  contractors  for  carrying  the  mail  being  William  and  James  Hamilton. 
The  contract  was  turned  over  to  George  Gordon,  who  carried  the  first  mail  in 
1837.  About  that  time  the  first  postoffice  was  established  here  with  a  Mr.  Corey 
as  postmaster. 

In  1837  William  West  manufactured  the  first  kiln  of  brick,  and  he  also  es- 
tablished the  first  grocery  store  in  the  town. 

Deacon  I.  Long  came  here  in  1837.  In  1846  the  steam  mill  of  T.  J.  Van 
Dorn  burned  and  and  in  1848  Tompkins  Brothers  built  a  mill,  starting  it  as  a  saw- 
mill and  also  ground  corn.  In  1852  they  put  in  the  burrs  and  bolts  necessary 
for  the  manufacture  of  flour. 

Jonathan  Huggins  established  his  residence  here  in  1839  and  in  1845  estab- 
lished the  Woodburn  Nursery,  which  furnished  the  trees  which  have  beautified 
the  town  of  Woodburn  and  this  vicinity. 

As  above  stated,  E.  J.  Miner  was  the  first  merchant  here  but  he  eventually 
sold  his  stock  to  L.  L.  Brown,  but  in  1838  he  sold  to  P.  C.  Huggins,  who  con- 
ducted the  establishment  until  his  removal  to  Bunker  Hill  in  1840. 

The  town  was  incorporated  in  1867  and  in  1869  it  was  granted  a  special 
charter  by  the  legislature. 

Woodburn  now  has  a  population  of  175.  Twenty  years  ago  there  were  276 
people  in  the  village. 

SHAW'S  POINT  TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  is  situated  on  the  east  side  of  the  county  and  is  bounded  on 
the  north  by  Nilwood,  on  the  west  by  Carlinville,  on  the  south  by  Honey  Point 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  367 

townships,  and  on  the  east  by  Montgomery  county.  The  surface  is  a  gently 
rolling  prairie,  of  rich,  alluvial  soil.  Fine  belts  of  timber  border  the  creeks. 
It  is  well  drained  by  Macoupin  creek  and  its  affluents  which  flows  southwesterly 
through  the  northwest  part  of  the  township.  Cottonwood  creek  and  Shaw's 
Point  branch  are  the  Macoupin's  principal  tributaries. 

A  man  by  the  name  of  Shaw  made  the  first  settlement  in  this  township.  He 
located  on  section  35,  in  the  year  1825,  and  his  name  was  given  to  the  town- 
ship, namely  Shaw's  Point.  Mr.  Shaw  built  a  small  log  cabin  and  improved  a 
few  acres  of  land,  which  he  abandoned  before  any  more  settlements  -were  made 
in  the  township.  Probably  the  next  to  settle  in  the  township  was  John  Lewis, 
who  came  with  his  family  in  1827.  Soon  after  followed  Job  Sperry,  C.  K.  Hut- 
ton,  the  Powells,  the  Cooks,  George  W.  Barnett,  and  others.  The  Yowells  ar- 
rived about  1829  and  a  Mr.  Fullerton  settled  here  in  1833.  The  following  year 
came  the  Davis  family  and  in  1837  George  W.  Barnett,  Sr.,  settled  in  this  town- 
ship. He  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  when  a  young  man  and  held  the  office 
fifteen  years.  Other  prominent  settlers  here  were :  John  J.  Womac,  a  Ken- 
tuckian  by  birth,  who  came  to  the  county  in  1835 ;  W.  C.  Anderson,  who  was 
born  in  the  county  in  1820;  James  W.  Yowell,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and 
Strouder  Yowell,  from  the  same  state,  came  in  1829;  E.  L.  Owen,  of  Tennessee, 
in  1835 ;  and  L.  W.  Bugger,  in  1834.  R.  B.  Black  was  a  resident  of  the  county 
in  1830;  L.  M.  English,  in  1837;  and  Hardin  T.  Richardson,  in  1839. 

Captain  Samuel  Cummings  came  with  his  parents  and  first  settled  in  North 
Palmyra  township  near  Vancil's  Point,  in  1825.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Black  Hawk  war  Captain  Cummings,  then  a  young  man,  enlisted  as  a  private. 
He  also  bore  an  honorable  part  in  the  war  of  the  late  rebellion. 

The  first  preacher  was  B.  F.  Castaine,  and  the  second  was  R.  G.  Allen.  They 
both  belonged  to  the  Christian  church  and  preached  in  the  only  house  of  wor- 
ship, in  "Hickory  Wall"  church  near  the  site  of  Bethel  Chapel. 

There  is  some  contention  of  opinion  as  to  who  was  the  first  schoolteacher. 
Some  maintain  that  Cyrus  Harris  was  the  first,  while  others  give  the  distinction 
to  F.  McClernand.  They  were,  however,  both  early  teachers,  as  was  also  James 
Johnson,  who  was  known  as  "Jimmy"  Johnson.  All  three  taught  in  the  "Hickory 
Wall"  church  and  schoolhouse. 

A  grist  mill  was  built  on  Macoupin  creek  in  1840  by  William  Nichols.  It 
was  propelled  by  water  power.  He  subsequently  sold  the  mill  and  it  was  changed 
to  steam  power.  There  was  prior  to  this  a  small  horse  mill  built  by  a  Mr.  Pow- 
ell. Two  others  of  the  same  kind  were  also  built  by  Peter  Akes  and  David 
Plain. 

The  first  store  in  the  township  was  kept  by  G.  W.  Barnett.  The  first  land 
entries  were  by  David  Cook,  May  4,  1829,  eighty  acres  in  section  9;  William 
G.  Cook,  May  4,  1829,  forty  acres  in  section  17 ;  John  Yowell,  July  25,  1830, 
eighty  acres  in  section  3. 

On  the  line  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad,  in  the  northeast 
part  of  the  township,  is  located  the  village  of  Atwater.  Here  are  probably  about 
a  half  dozen  stores,  a  church,  and  near  by,  a  school. 


368  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

The  Bank  of  Atwater  was  established  in  1904  and  has  a  cash  capital  of 
$10,500.  Deposits  show  $50,000.  The  bank  is  incorporated  and  the  president 
is  O.  B.  Cain;  cashier,  J.  P.  Enslow. 

GIRARD  TOWNSHIP. 

Girard  township  is  formed  from  the  southern  half  of  township  12,  north 
range  6.  The  land,  which  is  very  fertile,  is  drained  by  branches  of  Otter  and  Ma- 
coupin  creeks.  From  the  fact  that  there  was  a  scarcity  of  timber  in  this  dis- 
trict, this  township  was  not  settled  as  early  as  many  of  the  other  townships  in 
the  county.  However,  a  few  families  settled  as  early  as  1830  in  the  southwest 
corner,  among  whom  were  Daniel  Black,  William  and  Charles  Cox,  Jesse  Ash- 
lock,  a  Mr.  Mathews  and  Harlam  and  Thomas  Warren.  In  1835  John  Hender- 
son located  at  the  cross  roads,  a  mile  and  a  half  north  of  the  present  site  of 
Girard  and  conducted  a  tavern,  as  it  was  on  the  stage  line  running  from  Spring- 
field to  'Alton.  The  place  was  for  many  years  known  as  Henderson's  and  later 
as  Virden's  stage  stand. 

About  1834  Dr.  Edwards  and  Coe  Mather  laid  out  a  town  at  the  edge  of  the 
timber,  a  part  of  which  was  located  on  the  present  site  of  Girard.  They  named 
the  place  Girard  but  the  only  improvement  that  was  there  made  was  a  brick 
kiln. 

Until  the  year  1840  there  were  few  settlements  made  but  after  that  time  this 
locality  became  the  permanent  home  of  many  settlers.  Eventually,  in  1852,  the 
Chicago  &  Alton  railroad  was  built  through  the  township,  which  furnished  ship- 
ping facilities  for  produce,  but  prior  to  the  building  of  this  road  the  farmers 
had  to  haul  their  grain  and  produce  to  the  St.  Louis  and  Alton  markets,  where 
wheat  sold  at  from  twenty-five  to  fifty  cents  per  bushel. 

The  first  death  in  the  township  was  that  of  Mrs.  Thomas  Warren,  in  1833. 

The  first  couples  to  be  married  were  Elisha  Smith  and  Susan  Evans  and  a 
Mr.  Duff  and  Juliet  Henderson. 

The  first  sermon  preached  in  the  township  was  by  a  traveling  minister  of  the 
Methodist  denomination  and  the  services  were  held  at  the  home  of  one  of 
the  settlers.  For  some  time  the  residents  of  this  locality  went  to  North  Otter 
township  to  attend  religious  services  in  the  homes  of  the  settlers.  John  Steward 
and  Bird  England  were  local  preachers  and  P.  Lamay,  of  the  Baptist  faith, 
also  held  religious  services  here  occasionally. 

The  first  mill  erected  in  the  township  was  run  by  horse  power  and  was  built 
by  a  Mr.  Sprouse.  Steam  mills  were  soon  built  on  Waverly  and  Lick  creeks  and 
there  was  also  a  water  mill  on  Sugar  creek.  In  1846  B.  Boggess  built  a  steam 
saw  and  grist  mill  in  North  Otter  and  this  proved  a  great  convenience  for  the 
people  of  Girard  township. 

GIRARD. 

The  town  of  Girard  was  laid  out  in  the  spring  of  1853  by  C.  H.  Fink  and 
B.  Boggess,  and  the  survey  was  made  by  Nathan  Savage.  It  covered  a  portion 
of  the  land  on  which  Edwards  and  Mathers  had  contemplated  laying  out  a  town 
many  years  previously.  It  is  surrounded  by  a  beautiful  prairie  country  and  in 


WEST   SIDE   SQUARE.  GIRARD.   BEFORE    FIRE   OF   1909 


WEST  SIDE  SQUARE.  GIRARD 


LIBHAHY 

OF   IH£ 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  369 

the  center  of  the  town  is  a  public  square,  set  out  with  trees,  which  adds  not 
only  to  the  beauty  of  the  place  but  affords  comfort  to  the  residents. 

The  first  addition  to  the  town  was  made  in  the  year  1855  by  Thomas  Lewis 
and  John  Way.  A  sale  of  lots  was  made  on  the  21  st  of  August  that  year,  which 
sold  at  from  $20  to  $60  each.  The  second  addition  was  made  by  B.  Boggess  on 
the  north  and  east  sides  of  the  town  in  1866,  when  he  added  a  tract  of  sixty 
acres. 

The  first  building  in  the  town  was  one  which  was  moved  from  the  country 
by  B.  Boggess  and  occupied  by  Dr.  Abraham  Miller  and  family.  In  the  fall  of 
1853  Dr.  Miller,  N.  Branham  and  C.  H.  Fink  built  dwelling  houses  and  B.  Bog- 
gess built  a  store  and  J.  S.  Warfield  a  blacksmith  shop. 

A.  S.  Mayfield  opened  the  first  store  in  the  town  in  the  summer  of  1853. 

The  first  school  was  taught  by  a  Miss  Purdy  in  an  unfinished  dwelling  in  the 
fall  of  1853.  Later  a  one-story  frame  schoolhouse  was  erected  on  the  site  where 
the  present  public  school  stands. 

In  the  spring  of  1855  a  church  was  erected,  which  was  used  as  a  union  church 
by  Baptists,  Methodists,  Presbyterians,  Christians  and  Universalists.  In  1864 
the  Presbyterian  congregation  purchased  the  building  and  eventually  the  other 
denominations  each  built  for  themselves  a  house  of  worship. 

In  1854  a  postoffice  was  established  at  Girard  and  James  Mitchell  was  ap- 
pointed the  first  postmaster.  Prior  to  this  time  the  people  had  received  their 
mail  from  the  Pleasant  Grove  office  in  North  Otter  township. 

The  first  warehouse  was  built  by  J.  W.  Woodroof  in  the  fall  of  1854  and 
he  bought  and  shipped  the  first  carload  of  wheat  from  this  place. 

H.  Hall  built  the  first  flour  mill  in  1855.  Later  J.  W.  Woodroof,  Walker 
&  Miner  and  Lancaster  &  Erwin  built  flour  mills  here. 

A  coal  shaft  was  sunk  in  1869-70,  when  a  seven  foot  vein  of  coal  was 
reached  three  hundred  and  fifty  feet  below  the  surface.  This  shaft  is  now 
owned  by  the  Girard  Coal  Company.  From  this  time  on  the  town  of  Girard 
began  to  grow  and  improve. 

OBTAINS   A   CITY  CHARTER. 

In  1880  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  board  of  trustees  praying  that  an 
election  be  called  to  determine  the  question  of  organizing  under  the  city  charter 
under  the  general  law.  An  election  was  called  for  and  met  September  14,  1880, 
and  resulted  in  an  overwhelming  victory  for  city  organization.  The  city  officers 
were  elected  at  the  regular  annual  election  in  April,  1881.  The  outgoing  board 
of  trustees  refused  to  receive  the  election  returns  for  such  election,  claiming 
such  organization  had  not  been  made  within  the  time  required  by  law,  refusing 
to  vacate  their  seats  for  the  newly  elected  officers  and  continued  to  hold  regular 
meetings  to  elect  and  commission  officers  elected  by  them.  The  newly  elected 
city  council  met  for  the  first  time  in  July,  1881. 

Legal  proceedings  were  instituted  in  the  circuit  court  of  Macoupin  county 
to  determine  the  legality  of  the  town  board's  action.  That  court  decided  against 
the  town  board  and  an  appeal  was  taken  to  the  appellate  court,  which  early  in 
the  year  1882  also  decided  adversely  to  the  town  board.  It  was  not  until  Feb- 


370  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

ruary  7,  1882,  that  the  town  board  made  its  laws.  Thus  for  nearly  two  years 
there  was  maintained  in  Girard  two  sets  of  officers,  each  striving  to  maintain  its 
supremacy  and  to  secure  the  other's  overthrow. 

In  the  fall  of  1880  the  second  railroad  (the  present  J.  &  St.  L.)  was  finished 
through  Girard  from  Jacksonville  to  Litchfield.  This  gave  additional  passenger 
and  shipping  facilities  to  the  city  and  doubtless  has  contributed  much  to  its  sub- 
sequent growth  and  development. 

In  1881  there  was  prepared  and  published  a  complete  set  of  ordinances  for 
the  then  new  city.  Aldermen  were  elected  at  large  and  not  until  in  January, 
1882,  was  the  city  divided  into  wards.  In  September,  1885,  the  petition  of  R.  S. 
Cowan  and  others  was  presented  to  the  city  council  praying  that  an  election  be 
called  "to  determine  the  question  whether  the  city  of  Girard  shall  be  changed 
from  city  and  become  village."  Pursuant  thereto  an  election  was  called,  result- 
ing in  a  decided  majority  against  such  change.  In  1886,  a  complete  revision  of 
the  city  ordinances  was  made  and  published.  This  revision  remained  the  code 
of  the  city  until  1892,  when  a  new  revision  was  made  and  published. 

A  BUSY  TRADING  POINT. 

Girard  is  now  a  city  of  1,891,  having  gained  230  in  population  since  the 
census  of  1900.  Its  mines  employ  many  people  and  are  among  the  largest  in 
the  state.  On  three  sides  of  the  public  square  are  business  emporiums  of  a  char- 
acter not  often  found  in  a  place  as  small  as  Girard.  The  buildings  are  modern 
and  the  stocks  of  various  descriptions,  equal  in  quantity  and  quality  to  many 
cities  of  much  more  importance. 

ELECTRIC  LIGHTS. 

For  the  past  several  years  Girard  has  owned  its  lighting  plant.  In  1892  the 
city  council  granted  a  seven  year  license  to  George  A.  Eastham  and  Charles 
Evans  to  place  electric  light  poles  in  the  streets  of  Girard,  contracting  with  them 
for  lights  for  such  streets.  On  the  expiration  of  their  franchise,  which  was  by 
vote  in  1900,  it  was  determined  that  the  city  should  own  its  own  electric  light 
plant.  About  that  time  the  city  issued  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $6,000  and  bought 
the  plant,  which  had  been  built  by  George  L.  Tipton  and  E.  M.  Burnett.  The 
city  then  built  a  substantial  brick  power  house  in  another  locality,  installed  new 
machinery,  and  today  has  a  modern  lighting  plant  more  than  sufficient  to  meet 
the  demands  upon  it.  The  streets  are  lighted  on  a  "moon"  schedule  and  at  the 
present  has  in  service  twenty-six  arc  lights. 

A  GOOD  PLACE  IN  WHICH  TO  LIVE. 

Girard  is  a  desirable  place  in  which  to  locate  and  take  up  a  residence.  It  has 
a  splendid  school  and  several  churches,  the  Methodist,  Episcopal,  Presbyterian, 
Catholic,  German  Baptist,  Lutheran  Baptist,  Universalist  and  Christian.  Most. 
if  not  all,  of  these  organizations  have  new,  substantial  and  handsome  church 
buildings,  ranging  in  cost  from  four  to  five  thousand  dollars  each. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  371 

The  city  has  seven  miles  of  cement  walks.  Five  miles  of  these  walks  have 
been  laid  within  the  past  four  years.  There  is  a  good  brick  city  hall  building, 
which  was  erected  many  years  ago  and  an  excellent  volunteer  fire  company,  to 
whose  paraphernalia  a  Howe  gasoline  fire  engine  was  added  in  April,  1911,  at 
a  cost  of  $2,000. 

Prior  to  1907  saloons  had  existed  in  Girard  for  a  period  of  twenty-six  years. 
In  the  spring  of  the  year  mentioned,  under  Mayor  C.  H.  Metcalf's  administra- 
tion, the  saloons  were  ''turned  into  the  discard"  and  when  he  retired  from 
office  the  treasury  contained  $2,200. 

There  is  in  this  stirring  little  city  a  splendid  opera  house  building,  erected  by 
T.  C.  Dodson,  about  1893,  at  a  cost  of  $15,000.  There  is  also  a  woman's  club 
here,  which  is  now  about  three  years  old.  The  presiding  officer  is  Mrs.  Ella 
Toland.  There  are  several  fraternal  orders,  among  them  being  Girard  Lodge, 

A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  the  Eastern  Star,  Girard  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  and  Rebekahs, 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  Rathbone  Sisters,  Knights  of  Labor,  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America,  Hibernians,  Court  of  Honor  and  others.    Luke  Mayfield  Post,  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  was  organized  soon  after  the  war,  with  a  large  mem- 
bership, which  has  dwindled  down  to  a  few  old  veterans,  the  others  having 
answered  the  last  roll  call. 

In  the  fall  of  1909  Girard  was  visited  by  quite  a  disastrous  fire,  which  de- 
stroyed about  $35,000  worth  of  property,  consisting  of  business  buildings  on  the 
west  side  of  the  square.  New  buildings  at  once  took  their  place,  which  added 
materially  to  the  fine  appearance  of  the  square.  During  the  holidays  of  1910 
the  O'Neil  block  burned  to  the  ground,  entailing  a  loss  of  from  $10,000  to 
$12,000. 

CHIEF  EXECUTIVES  OF  THE  CITY. 

Below  is  given  a  list  of  the  men  who  have  served  Girard  as  president  or  as 
mayor  of  the  village  and  city  of  Girard  since  the  year  1865 : 

1865-6,  William  S.  Littlepage;  1867-69,  Joseph  McKinney;  1870,  Barnabus 
Boggess;  1871-2,  Daniel  S.  Macknett;  1873,  R.  S.  Cowan;  1874-5,  William  E. 
Eastham;  1876-7,  William  S.  Littlepage;  1878,  Henry  D.  Lowe;  1879,  William 
S.  Littlepage;  1880,  Henry  D.  Lowe;  1881-2,  Thomas  C.  Cherry;  1883-4,  L.  C. 
Murphy;  1885-6,  William  S.  Garretson;  1887-8,  R.  S.  Cowan;  1889-90,  Lewis 
C.  Deck;  1891-2,  R.  S.  Cowan;  1893-4,  Edward  C.  Knotts;  1895-6,  R.  S.  Cowan; 
1897-8,  William  N.  Drennan;  1899-1900,  Frank  G.  Wood;  1901-03,  Alexander 
W.  Crawford;  1903-5,  Philip  Flood;  1905-7,  Alexander  W.  Crawford;  1907-11, 

C.  H.  Metcalf ;  1911,  A.  H.  Miller,  who  is  the  present  incumbent. 

BANK    OF    GIRARD. 

The  Bank  of  Girard  was  organized  December  10,  1873,  by  James  D.  Metcalf, 

B.  P.  Andrews,  J.  W.  Woodroof  and  John  F.  Roche.    The  officers  were:  James 

D.  Metcalf,  president ;  B.  P.  Andrews,  cashier ;  H.  C.  Hamilton,  assistant  cashier. 
In    1908  the   institution   changed   its   character   to  the  extent  of   securing  a 

charter  as  a  state  bank,  assuming  the  name  of  the  State  Bank  of  Girard,  the  first 
officers  of  which  were :     H.  C.  Hamilton,  president ;  J.  D.  Metcalf,  vice  presi- 


372  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

dent;  J.  M.  Metcalf,  cashier;  E.  E.  Littlepage,  assistant  cashier.  This  list  of 
officers  prevails  at  the  present  time.  The  directors  are  H.  C.  Hamilton,  J.  D. 
Metcalf,  J.  M.  Metcalf,  E.  E.  Littlepage,  John  F.  Roche,  B.  P.  Andrews  and 
J.  W.  Woodroof. 

The  paid  up  capital  of  this  financial  institution  is  $50,000,  with  a  surplus  and 
undivided  profits  of  $12,500.  It  does  a  general  banking  business  and  is  considereJ 
one  of  the  most  substantial  concerns  of  the  kind  in  the  county. 

PEOPLES   BANK   OF  GIRARD. 

This  bank  was  organized  February  i,  1893.  Its  first  officials  were:  J.  N. 
McElvain,  president;  W.  S.  Garretson,  vice  president;  J.  O.  Burton,  cashier; 
Jason  N.  McElvain,  W.  S.  Garretson,  S.  O.  Smith,  J.  Coy  Roach,  J.  O.  Burton, 
F.  G.  Storz,  T.  H.  Cherry,  directors.  The  bank  is  capitalized  at  $40,000  and  has 
a  surplus  of  $20,000.  Its  present  officials  are :  S.  A.  Smith,  president ;  T.  H. 
Cherry,  vice  president;  J.  H.  Tietsort,  cashier;  S.  O.  Smith,  T.  H.  Cherry,  J.  H. 
Tietsort,  J.  O,  Burton,  M.  H.  Tietsort,  G.  G.  Garretson,  T  Coy  Roach,  directors. 

BRUSHY    MOUND  TOWNSHIP. 

Brushy  Mound  township  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Carlinville,  on  the  east 
by  Honey  Point  township,  south  by  Gillespie  and  on  the  west  by  Polk  township. 
It  took  its  name  from  the  large  mound,  situated  near  the  center  of  the  township. 

In  the  year  1828  Theodorus  Davis,  Jr.,  became  the  first  settler  of  the  town- 
ship. In  July,  1829,  John  Moore,  with  his  family,  consisting  of  wife  and  three 
children,  settled  in  the  township.  He  located  on  a  tract  of  land  about  three  miles 
southwest  of  Carlinville. 

In  1830  David  Gimlin  settled  on  land  about  three  miles  southwest  of  Carlin- 
ville, in  Brushy  Mound  township.  He  was  a  Baptist  minister  and  preached  the 
first  sermon  ever  delivered  in  the  township. 

In  1831  several  settlers  cam*:,  among  them  the  Weatherfords,  Jefferson  Har- 
din  and  others,  who  located  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  township  on  what  was 
later  known  as  Weatherford's  prairie.  Soon  afterward  came  Elijah  Mitchell 
and  Thomas  rfughes  and  settled  on  Brushy  Mound  prairie.  About  this  same  time 
Henry  and  Thomas  Beauford  and  Willis  and  William  Whitworth,  with  their 
families,  also  settled  here. 

In  1832  William  Kettner  and  family  located  on  what  v/as  known  as  Spanish 
Needle  prairie. 

In  1833  or  1834  Jefferson  Weatherford  built  a  mill  which  was  operated  by  ox 
power. 

In  1837  Haskins  Trabue  built  a  carding  factory,  which  for  many  years  sup- 
plied the  settlers  with  woolen  yarn. 

In  the  spring  of  1851  Thomas  Carr  and  Elijah  Mitchell  built  a  grist  mill  on 
Honey  creek  and  in  1853  B.  F.  Clark  and  J.  R.  Mitchell  built  a  mill  on  Spanish 
Needle  prairie.  Some  time  later  Braley's  mill  on  Honey  <~reek,  and  Borough's 
mill  at  Borough  station,  were  erected. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  373 

The  first  couple  married  in  this  township  was  William  Flinan  and  Miss 
Edith  Gimlin,  daughter  of  David  Gimlin,  their  wedding  being  celebrated  on  the 
1 7th  of  January,  1833. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  township  was  Theodorus,  son  of  John  and  Ann 
Moore,  on  the  i6th  of  September,  1830.  When  seventeen  years  of  age  he  en- 
listed for  service  in  the  war  with  Mexico  and  died  of  yellow  fever  at  Tampico, 
Mexico,  September  30,  1847. 

The  first  house  of  worship  in  the  township  was  erected  by  the  Baptists,  on 
section  12,  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  township.  It  was  20x30  feet,  built  of 
hewn  logs,  covered  with  oak  shingles,  while  the  floor  was  made  of  undressed  oak 
plank.  In  1852  this  structure  was  replaced  by  a  frame  building,  which  was 
erected  on  the  south  side  of  Honey  creek  timber.  In  1873  a  third  building  was 
erected. 

The  first  school  district  in  the  township  was  organized  in  1834.  The  build- 
ing was  made  of  logs  and  the  school  was  conducted  by  Thomas  P.  Low. 

The  first  entries  of  land  in  the  township  were  made  as  follows :  October 
19,  1829,  eighty  acres  on  section  5,  by  Travis  Moore ;  October  8,  1830,  eighty 
acres  on  the  same  section  by  David  Gimlin;  October  16,  1830,  eighty  acres  on 
section  12,  by  Harding  Weatherford. 

VIRDEN    TOWNSHIP. 

Virden  township  lies  in  the  extreme  northeastern  corner  of  the  county  and  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Sangamon  county,  on  the  east  by  Montgomery  county, 
on  the  south  by  Girard  township,  and  on  the  west  by  North  Otter  township. 
The  land  is  mostly  prairie.  As  the  years  have  passed  the  farms  have  been  well 
improved  and  highly  cultivated,  being  settled  by  a  thrifty  and  energetic  class  of 
farmers.  The  land  is  afforded  good  drainage  by  Sugar  and  Brush  creeks. 

The  first  settlers  in  the  township  were  Robert  Smith  and  Joseph  Davidson, 
who  with  their  families  came  from  Ohio  in  the  fall  of  1829,  locating  on  Sugar 
creek  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  township.  The  first  land  entry  was  made 
November  9,  1829,  by  M.  Davidson  and  Robert  Smith  on  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  6.  Among  the  early  settlers  here  were  John  Gelder,  Thomas  G. 
Duckies,  who  settled  here  in  1838;  John  G.  Smith,  who  made  a  permanent  loca- 
tion here  in  1852 ;  and  Abner  Kent,  William  Gibson,  Noble  Walters,  Samuel 
Hullet,  and  Preston  Wright. 

Rev.  Edward  Rutledge  preached  the  first  sermon  in  one  of  the  private  homes. 
He  was  of  the  Methodist  faith.  That  denomination  built  the  first  church  in 
1853.  Subsequently  it  gave  way  to  a  new  church  edifice  and  the  old  structure 
was  used  for  a  blacksmith  shop. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  township  was  Robert  Davidson,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred in  1831. 

Greene  B.  Haggard  and  Eliza  Smith  were  the  first  couple  married  in  the  town- 
ship, the  wedding  being  celebrated  on  the  22(1  of  April,  1846. 


374  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

The  first  schoolhouse  was  built  of  logs  in  1841,  and  was  located  on  section  18. 
The  first  teacher  was  Mrs.  Rebecca  Kent,  who  taught  for  three  months,  receiv- 
ing as  her  compensation  fifteen  dollars. 

VIRDEN. 

•  The  town  of  Virden  was  named  in  honor  of  John  Virden,  who  for  some  years 
was  proprietor  of  a  hotel  and  kept  a  popular  stage  stand  two  miles  south  of  the 
village.  The  town  was  laid  out  in  1852  by  Messrs.  Heaton,  Dubois,  Chesnut, 
Hickox  and  Keiting,  and  the  first  lots  were  sold  in  October  of  that  year.  It  was 
surveyed  by  John  L.  Morrell. 

The  first  building  in  the  town  was  the  hotel  erected  and  conducted  by  John 
Virden. 

The  first  residence  in  the  town  was  erected  and  occupied  by  Alexander  Hord 
and  his  family. 

The  first  store  in  the  town  was  opened  by  Henry  Fishback,  in  November, 
1852.  After  four  months  he  sold  to  John  I.  Beattie,  who  took  possession  Feb- 
ruary I,  1853.  Page  Heaton  opened  the  first  dry  goods  and  grocery  store  in 
the  town.  In  January,  1853,  the  first  postoffice  was  opened  in  his  store.  In  the 
summer  of  1853  Joseph  E.  Walker  built  a  blacksmith  shop. 

The  first  mill  was  built  by  John  Williams,  and  was  known  as  North  mill. 
It  was  destroyed  by  fire  a  few  years  after  it  began  operations.  A  second  mill 
was  erected  by  Matthew  Cowens  and  called  South  mill. 

In  the  spring  of  1853  the  first  school  was  taught  by  Mrs.  James  Hall  in  a 
private  home. 

In  1853  the  first  marriage  occurred  in  the  town,  the  contracting  parties  being 
Miss  Hannah  Stead  and  a  Mr.  Lloyd. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  John  Dryr  in  1855. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  town  was  Mary,  daughter  of  John  Dohoney,  later 
of  Carlinville.  Her  birth  occurred  December  4,  1852. 

The  first  sermon  was  delivered  by  Edward  Rutledge,  a  Methodist  minister, 
in  the  hotel  of  John  Virden.  The  first  regular  preacher  was  Rev.  Baker. 

Dr.  Charles  Holliday  located  here  for  practice  in   1854. 

In  1870  the  village  voted  $30,000  for  the  building  of  the  Jacksonville  &  South- 
eastern railway.  It  was  finished  about  the  close  of  1871  and  was  thirty-one  miles 
long.  J.  W.  Lathrop  was  appointed  the  first  station  agent.  The  first  freight 
received  was  January  25,  1872.  It  was  two  rolls  of  leather  from  Jacksonville 
and  consigned  to  Battise  &  Huntly,  of  Carlinville.  The  first  freight  shipped 
was  a  carload  of  coal  from  the  Virden  Coal  Company  and  consigned  to  J.  I. 
Cochran,  of  Jacksonville,  on  the  loth  of  January,  1872. 

The  Chicago  &  Alton  railroad  also  passes  through  the  town. 

In  1869  a  coal  shaft  was  sunk  by  a  stock  company  in  Virden. 

AS  THE  YEARS  HAVE  PASSED. 

/ 

In  1890  the  census  gave  Virden  a  population  of  1,160.  Today  it  has,  by  the 
United  States  census  an  even  4,000,  and  is  still  growing,  not  only  in  the  number 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN.  COUNTY  375 

of  its  citizens,  but  in  a  business  way.  Virden  is  a  first  class  little  city  and  its 
mining  interests  made  for  it  one  of  the  principal  coal  centers  of  the  county.  Its 
mercantile  houses  compare  very  favorably  with  places  of  more  consequence  and 
the  buildings,  which  surround  the  public  square,  are,  many  of  them,  new  and  at- 
tractive in  appearance.  In  1910  Jackson  street,  considered  the  main  thorough- 
fare of  the  city,  was  paved  with  brick  from  Dye  street  to  Madison.  Within  the 
past  seven  years  about  twenty  miles  of  cement  sidewalks  have  been  laid  and  a 
project  is  now  on  foot  by  the  citizens  for  the  building  of  waterworks.  For 
some  years  an  electric  light  plant  has  been  in  operation,  built  by  corporate  in- 
terests, and  it  is  one  of  the  most  complete  establishments  in  this  section  of  the 
state. 

NEW    CITY   HALL. 

In  1910,  a  substantial  and  attractive  city  hall  was  built  on  the  east  side  of  the 
public  square,  at  a  cost  of  $4,000.  Here  are  the  council  chambers,  city  officials' 
offices  and  room  for  the  volunteer  fire  department,  the  paraphernalia  of  which 
consists  of  a  Watrous  fire  engine,  costing  $1,400,  and  purchased  in  1909.  Hose 
carts  and  sufficient  hose  complete  the  outfit. 

The  city  is  economically  governed  and  well  policed.  Its  streets,  surrounding 
the  public  square,  are  kept  free  from  dust  by  sprinkling  them  with  oil. 

Virden,  of  course,  has  her  societies  of  various  descriptions.  Chief  among 
them  are  the  Masons,  Eastern  Star,  Odd  Fellows,  Rebekahs,  Modern  Woodmen, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  Red  Men,  Foresters  and  others.  John  Baird  Post,  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  was  at  one  time  a  strong  organization.  Disease  and  death 
have  crept  into  the  ranks  of  the  members  and  today  but  a  corporal's  guard  is 
left  to  answer  the  roll  call. 

STATE  BANK. 


About  1866  this  bank  was  organized  by  Chesnut  &  Dubois,  bankers  of  Car- 
linville,  and  the  firm  was  composed  of  C.  P.  Heaton,  A.  McKim  Dubois  and 
John  R.  Chesnut.  The  concern  then  passed  into  the  hands  of  Frank  Heaton,  a 
son  of  C.  P.  Heaton,  and  C.  M.  Walworth,  the  latter  now  connected  with  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Chicago.  Later  Benjamin  F.  Caldwell,  Edward  Keys  and 

Lewis,  of  Springfield,  and  J.  P.  Henderson  and  George  J.  Pattison, 

of  Virden,  bought  the  concern  and  run  it  as  a  private  bank  for  about  six  years, 
when  the  Springfield  interests  were  purchased  by  Henderson  and  Pattison  and 
the  banking  firm  took  the  name  of  Henderson,  Pattison  &  Company,  the  com- 
pany being  George  H.  Hill.  This  condition  obtained  until  about  1900,  when  Mr. 
Pattison  died  and  soon  thereafter  the  State  Bank  was  organized  by  J.  P.  Hender- 
son, Henry  Kable,  George  H.  Hill,  John  Gelder,  and  others.  Capitalization,  $50,- 
ooo.  Officials  :  J.  P.  Henderson,  president ;  John  Gelder  and  Howard  T.  Wilson, 
vice  presidents ;  J.  W.  Everts,  cashier ;  Harry  G.  Hill,  assistant.  The  last  state- 


376  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

ment  of  the  bank  issued  in  June,  1911,  showed  total  resources  of  $352,000;  de- 
posits, $300,000. 

THE  FARMERS  AND  MERCHANTS  STATE  BANK. 

In  1893  the  Farmers  &  Merchants  Bank  was  established  by  O.  R.  Rohrer 
and  others,  which  eventually,  about  three  years  ago,  was  sold  to  C.  D.  Brown  & 
Company.  Most,  if  not  all  of  this  time,  O.  R.  Rohrer  was  the  cashier.  In  the 
winter  of  1910  Mr.  Brown  died  and  on  December  19,  1910,  the  bank  received 
its  charter  as  a  state  bank  and  assumed  the  title  of  the  Farmers  &  Merchants 
State  Bank.  It  was  capitalized  at  $55,000.  B.  R.  Hieronymus,  president ;  O.  R. 
Rohrer,  cashier. 

NILWOOD   TOWNSHIP. 

Nilwood  township  is  a  rich  agricultural  region  and  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Girard,  on  the  west  by  South  Otter,  on  the  south  by  Shaw's  Point  township, 
and  on  the  east  by  Montgomery  county,  and  lies  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the 
county  in  the  eastern  tier  of  townships.  It  is  well  drained  by  Macoupin  creek 
and  its  tributaries. 

The  first  man  to  settle  in  the  township  was  General  John  Harris,  who  came  in 
1829  and  located  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  township  near  the  point  of  timber 
which  is  now  known  as  Harris'  point.  He  was  a  colonel  in  the  Black  Hawk  war 
and  later  served  as  brigadier  general  of  militia.  He  also  represented  the  county 
in  the  state  legislature.  At  his  death  he  was  buried  in  the  woods  a  short  dis- 
tance north  of  Sulphur  Springs.  In  the  year  1829  other  settlers  who  came  were 
David  Steele,  John,  Samuel  and  Edley  McVey,  all  of  whom  settled  on  what  is 
known  as  Sherrill's  branch,  a  tributary  of  Macoupin  creek. 

Judge  Yowell  and  his  son,  James  H.  Yowell,  also  came  in  1829.  William 
S.  Street  came  here  in  1831  from  Kentucky  and  after  farming  for  some  time,  en- 
gaged in  merchandising  in  Xilwood.  D.  B.  Boston,  a  native  of  Indiana,  became 
a  settler  here  in  1833. 

The  first  birth  in  the  county  was  that  of  John  Harris,  a  son  of  General  John 
Harris,  who  met  his  death  at  the  age  of  twelve  years  by  drowning. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  John  L.  Harris,  a  nephew  of  General  Harris, 
who  was  accidentally  killed  while  assisting  in  the  erection  of  a  log  house. 

In  1829  the  first  couple  was  married  in  the  township,  the  contracting  parties 
being  Nathan  McVey  and  Susan  Akins. 

A  Methodist  and  Baptist  society  were  organized  in  1829,  the  latter  by  David 
Gimlin.  The  following  year,  1830,  Thomas  Chasteen  organized  a  Christian  so- 
ciety. In  1830  a  church  was  erected  at  Sulphur  Springs  and  was  used  as  a  union 
church.  In  1846  the  Methodists  erected  a  church  of  their  own. 

The  first  school  was  conducted  in  the  union  church  and  was  taught  by  a  Mr. 
Harris.  This  was  used  for  school  purposes  until  1838,  when  a  log  schoolhouse 
was  built  near  Macoupin  creek.  Enoch  Hall  was  one  of  the  pioneer  teachers. 

The  first  mill  was  built  by  Lewis  Pitman.  In  1838  he  built  a  grist  mill  which 
was  run  by  horse  power.  He  also  put  up  the  first  blacksmith  shop. 

A  tannery  was  built  by  John  McVey  in   1837. 


•-J 


VIEWS    OF   VIRDEN 


LIBRABY 

OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  377 

The  first  settlers  to  enter  land  were  as  follows:  John  Harris,  January  2, 
1829,  eighty  acres  on  section  12;  Robert  Palmer,  January  20,  1829,  eighty 
acres  on  section  2;  Samuel  M.  Harris,  October  31,  1829,  eighty  acres  on  section 
33.  The  first  furrow  was  turned  by  Andrew  Bigham. 

NILWOOD. 

The  town  of  Nilwood  is  located  on  section  18,  on  the  line  of  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  railroad  and  is  about  eight  miles  northeast  of  Carlinville,  the  county  seat. 
It  was  laid  out  by  Samuel  Mayo  and  Philander  Bayly  and  surveyed  in  1855  by 
F.  H.  Chapman. 

The  first  buildings  in  the  town  were  erected  by  J.  Benneyworth  and  H.  Cooper, 
the  latter  building  a  dwelling  house,  which  was  completed  July  9,  1852. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  town  was  Charles  Cooper,  son  of  H.  Cooper,  Octo- 
ber 10,  1853. 

Rev.  Bardrick  and  Jane  Benneyworth  were  the  first  couple  married  in  the 
town. 

A  store  was  established  in  1857  by  a  Mr.  Bristow. 

The  first  school  was  taught  by  a  Mr.  McKee. 

In  1857  five  dwellings  and  two  stores  were  erected  and  from  that  time  on 
the  village  began  to  grow. 

In  1862  the  Methodist  denomination  built  a  church  and  Rev.  McDougal  was 
the  first  minister.  The  Baptist  people  put  up  a  church  in  1869. 

In  1857  J.  Benneyworth  built  the  first  grist  mill  and  in  1873  he  opened  and 
operated  a  coal  mine. 

Most  of  Nilwood  lies  within  Nilwood  township.  In  1900  there  were  420  in- 
habitants. The  population  now  numbers  but  399.  The  chief  industry  of  the  vil- 
lage is  from  the  contiguous  mines.  There  are  but  one  or  two  business  houses, 
a  church  and  schoolhouse.  The  Illinois  Traction  System's  interurban  electric 
road  runs  through  the  town  and  parallels  the  Chicago  &  Alton. 

THE   NILWOOD  STATE   BANK. 

This  bank  is  a  comparatively  new  concern,  being  incorporated  August  12,  1908. 
The  organizers  of  the  institution  were  F.  W.  Cooper,  Ferdinand  Winter,  Charles 
Klaus,  and  B.  F.  Darneille.  Its  first  officers  were  as  follows :  President,  W.  C. 
Ledferd;  vice  president,  Ferdinand  Winter;  secretary  and  cashier,  F.  W.  Cooper. 
These  gentlemen  with  the  following  names  constituted  the  first  board  of  direc- 
tors :  Charles  Klaus,  R.  C.  Adams,  C.  R.  Welton  and  S.  M.  Welton. 

The  present  officials  are :  President,  Ferdinand  Winter ;  vice  president,  John 
C.  Anderson;  secretary,  F.  W.  Cooper;  cashier,  F.  D.  Huber;  assistant  cashier, 
Otto  L.  Klaus.  The  directors  are :  Ferdinand  Winter,  F.  W.  Cooper,  John  C. 


378  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Anderson,  Charles  Klaus,  R.  C.  Adams,  C.  R.  Welton  and  S.  M.  Welton.    The 
institution  is  capitalized  at  $25,000. 

HONEY  POINT   TOWNSHIP. 

Honey  Point  is  one  of  the  eastern  tier  of  townships  and  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Shaw's  Point  township,  on  the  east  by  Montgomery  county,  on  the 
south  by  Cahokia  and  on  the  west  by  Brushy  Mound  townships. 

The  first  entry  of  land  was  made  by  Aaron  Hammer,  August  19,  1819,  which 
was  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  on  section  32.  The  second  entry  was  made  by  Har- 
din  Hall,  May  24,  1831,  which  was  eighty  acres  on  section  17,  and  two  days 
later,  on  the  26th  of  May  of  the  same  year,  Thomas  Carr  entered  eighty  acres  on 
section  18.  • 

The  earliest  settlers  who  came  sought  the  edge  of  the  timber  but  eventually 
settlements  were  made  on  the  prairie  land.  In  1832  Elijah  Mitchell  came,  and  in 
1833  he  was  followed  by  Thomas  D.  Moore,  Robert  Scott  and  a  Mr.  Rucker. 
Other  early  settlers  were  Judge  Olds,  John  Perkins,  James  Sinclair,  M.  J.  W. 
Hart,  James  Mounce  and  Thomas  I.  Williams. 

J.  W.  York  came  here  in  1828.  Peter  Keplinger,  John  McReynolds,  W.  N. 
Gulp,  J.  D.  Sanders  and  James  Hunt  were  also  among  the  earliest  arrivals. 

This  township  received  its  appellation  from  the  following  incident :  Near 
the  center  of  the  township,  on  the  banks  of  Honey  creek  is  found  a  grove  about 
three  quarters  of  a  mile  wide,  extending  westward  almost  three  miles,  and  sur- 
rounded on  all  sides  by  prairie.  It  is  said  that  during  the  Black  Hawk  war  a 
company  of  soldiers  under  Colonel  Whiteside,  in  marching  from  St.  Louis  to 
Springfield,  camped  in  the  east  end  of  the  timber  for  the  night.  In  the  morning 
their  attention  was  attracted  to  a  large  number  of  bees  and  they  later  discovered 
a  number  of  bee  trees  filled  with  honey,  and  ever  after  this  section  of  the  county 
was  known  as  Honey  Point  township. 

The  first  school  was  conducted  in  a  building  near  the  center  of  the  township 
in  the  Honey  Point  timber. 

The  first  resident  ministers  were  Elders  Mitchell  and  Brown  and  others  who 
came  to  preach  were  Isaac  Haycraft,  J.  B.  Rhoads  and  Messrs.  Carr  and 
Williams. 

The  township  contains  no  village  or  postoffice  but  the  village  of  Clyde  is 
located  near  the  southern  border  just  across  the  line  in  Cahokia  township. 

CAHOKIA   TOWNSHIP. 

Cahokia  township  constitutes  what  is  known  as  town  7,  range  6  west,  and 
is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Honey  Point  township,  on  the  west  by  Gillespie,  on 
the  south  by  Staunton  township,  and  on  the  east  by  Montgomery  county.  It 
lies  in  the  southeastern  portion  of  the  county  and  the  land  is  rolling  prairie,  well 
drained  by  Cahokia  creek  and  its  tributaries.  There  is  also  some  timber  to  be 
found. 

Ephraim  Powers  settled  near  the  southeastern  corner  of  the  township  about 
1828.  and  in  1830  Thomas  Kinder  and  his  family  located  on  section  n.  In  1831 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  379 

Peter  B.  Karnes  and  family  settled  here.  Soon  afterward  others  who  came  were 
John  Kinder,  Amos  Snook,  B.  L.  Dorsey,  John  Blevins,  Tolton  Blevins,  Lodwick 
Jones  and  Nathan  Duncan.  All  these  settlers  at  once  made  improvements  and 
developed  good  farms. 

The  first  birth  in  the  township  was  that  of  William  S.  Karnes,  son  of  Peter 
B.  and  Sarah  Ann  Karnes,  whose  birth  occurred  May  30,  1832. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  Mrs.  Kinder  in  May,   1832. 

The  first  marriage  also  occurred  in  the  spring  of  1832,  the  contracting  parties 
being  Christopher  Kinder  and  Miss  Mary  Ann  Cook. 

The  first  religious  services  were  held  in  1834  at  the  home  of  James  Caulk, 
by  William  Burg,  a  United  Baptist  minister.  Larkin  Craig  was  also  a  pioneer 
minister  of  this  locality. 

The  United  Baptist  people  erected  the  first  church  here  about  1840.  It  was 
located  on  section  2,  on  land  belonging  to  Thomas  Kinder.  It  was  built  of  logs 
and  served  as  well  for  school  purposes.  A  man  by  the  name  of  Arnold  was  the 
first  teacher  here.  This  building  was  finally  destroyed  by  fire. 

The  first  schoolhouse  was  built  of  logs,  on  section  10,  about  the  year  1835. 
The  first  teachers  in  this  school  were  Evan  Hazzard  and  John  Wilton. 

John  Blevins  built  the  first  blacksmith  shop  in  1833  anc^  was  the  first  black- 
smith in  this  district. 

Eaton  &  English  put  up  the  first  grist  mill,  which  was  operated  by  horse 
power. 

The  first  entries  of  land  were  made  as  follows :  John  Blevins,  eighty  acres 
on  section  10,  April  22,  1831  ;  Peter  Kinder,  eighty  acres  on  section  10,  May  9, 
1831 ;  George  A.  and  John  Kinder,  the  same  amount  on  the  same  section  on  that 
date,  while  Jacob  and  William  Kinder  entered  at  the  same  time  eighty  acres  on 
section  14.  Others  of  the  early  settlers  were  Nancy  Snook,  Larkin  Craig,  Nancy 
Keel,  George  Bayless,  Hugh  Rice,  William  Anderson,  William  Eickmeyer,  E.  S. 
Holme  and  J.  M.  Rhoads. 

CLYDE. 

i 

The  village  of  Clyde  lies  on  section  3,  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  town- 
ship and  is  located  on  the  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis  railroad.  Robert  J.  Hornsby 
was  proprietor  of  the  village  and  it  was  surveyed  and  platted  by  F.  H.  Chap- 
man in  1854. 

BENLD. 

Benld  is  one  of  the  growing  mining  towns  of  Macoupin  county.  In  the  cen- 
sus of  1900,  it  was  not  mentioned,  but  the  census  of  1910  gives  it  a  population 
of  1,912.  Most  of  this  population  is  made  up  of  foreigners  who  gain  a  liveli- 
hood from  the  large  mines  located  there.  The  village  is  substantially  built,  with 
probably  a  half  dozen  brick  business  structures  in  the  center  of  the  place. 


380  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

The  Macoupin  County  railroad  passes  through  the  town  and  the  Illinois  Trac- 
tion System's  electric  road  passes  on  its  western  border,  giving  its  people  easy 
access  to  the  outside  world. 


FIRST    NATIONAL    BANK. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Benld  was  chartered  in  1905,  with  a  capital  stock 
of  $25,000.  Its  president  is  F.  W.  Edwards  and  cashier,  C.  R.  Eagle.  The  last 
published  report  of  this  national  institution  showed  deposits  to  the  amount  of 
$65,000. 

STAUNTON  TOWNSHIP. 

Staunton  township  is  situated  in  the  extreme  southeast  corner  of  Macoupin 
county,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Cahokia  township,  on  the  west  by  Dor- 
chester township,  on  the  south  by  Madison  county  and  on  the  east  by  Mont- 
gomery county.  The  township  is  mostly  rolling  prairie,  well  adapted  for  all 
kinds  of  agriculture.  Several  creeks  run  through  the  township,  the  principal 
one  of  which  is  Cahokia,  which  enters  in  the  north  part  of  section  5  and  flow- 
ing in  a  southwesterly  direction,  passes  out  on  the  west  of  section  19.  The 
streams  are  bordered  by  belts  of  timber,  which  include  various  kinds  of  oak, 
ash,  sugar  maple,  walnut  and  hickory. 

John  Wood  claimed  the  distinction  of  being  the  first  settler  in  the  township, 
coming  in  the  year  1817.  He  was  a  blacksmith  and  millwright  by  trade  and  came 
here  from  Virginia,  settling  on  the  southeast  half  of  section  36.  In  the  same 
year  Richard  Wilhelm  and  Cennith  Seymore,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  came 
to  Staunton  township  from  Alabama,  and  settled  on  section  24.  In  the  spring  of 
1819  Telemachus  Camp,  who  was  a  native  of  Georgia,  also  came  here  from 
Alabama  and  located  on  section  19.  In  November  of  the  same  year  John  D. 
and  Richard  Chapman,  who  were  natives  of  North  Carolina,  came  here  from 
Tennessee,  the  former  settling  on  section  18,  while  the  latter  established  his 
home  on  section  24.  In  1820  several  families  were  added  to  this  section,  these 
being  Jesse  Chapman,  who  came  from  North  Carolina  and  settled  on  section  1 7 : 
James  B.  Cowell,  who  came  from  Tennessee  and  settled  on  section  30,  while 
Lewis  and  William  Cormack  settled  in  the  same  neighborhood.  The  following 
year,  1821,  Rodger  Snell,  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  came  from  Tennessee  and 
settled  on  section  31.  From  this  time  on  many  came  and  settled  in  Staunton 
township  and  during  the  succeeding  seven  years  this  district  became  quite  thickly 
settled,  the  people  coming  from  North  and  South  Carolina,  Virginia,  Georg:a, 
Tennessee,  Kentucky  and  some  from  Pennsylvania. 

The  first  religious  service  was  held  here  in  the  fall  of  1820,  at  the  home  of 
Richard  Chapman,  the  minister  being  Rev.  Parham  Ranclle,  of  the  Methodist 
faith.  Rev.  James  Lemon,  a  nr'nister  of  the  Baptist  faith,  preached  in  the  home 
of  Telemachus  Camp,  in  the  fall  of  1821.  The  first  church  was  built  and  dedi- 
cated in  1828  and  was  not  only  used  by  all  denominations  for  religious  services, 
but  served  as  well  for  school  purposes  and  public  meetings  of  all  kinds.  It  stooil 
on  the  land  where  the  city  cemetery  is  now  located. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  381 

The  first  school  was  conducted  on  the  subscription  plan  and  was  taught  in  the 
summer  of  1822  by  William  Wilcox.  He  taught  eight  hours  a  day,  five  days  in 
the  week,  for  two  dollars  a  scholar. 

In  1825  tRe  first  school  house  was  built.  It  was  constructed  of  split  hickory 
logs,  with  clapboard  roof  and  dirt  floor.  The  second  building  for  school  pur- 
poses was  made  of  hewn  logs,  with  a  shingle  roof  and  oak  plank  floor.  It  was 
18x20  feet  in  size  and  one  story  in  height.  The  first  teachers  were  Rodger 
Snell,  Tristram  P.  Hoxey,  Philip  Denham  and  Archibald  Hoxey. 

The  first  couple  to  be  married  in  the  township  was  Jesse  Chapman  and  Com- 
fort Alexander.  The  ceremony  was  performed  on  the  29th  of  May,  1820,  by 
John  Y.  Sawyer,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  at  Edwardsville,  which  was  the  only 
place  a  license  could  be  secured.  The  second  couple  married  in  the  township  was 
William  Wilcox  and  Polly  Cormack,  in  1823. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  the  township  was  Benjamin,  son  of  John  D. 
and  Sarah  Chapman,  in  the  spring  of  1820.  On  the  23d  of  October  of  the  same 
year  a  son  was  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Telemachus  Camp.  He  died  on  the  i5th 
of  December  following,  this  being  the  first  death  in  the  township. 

The  first  store  was  opened  by  Stephen  G.  Hicks  in  1831  and  in  1834  John 
Cormack  also  opened  a  mercantile  establishment. 

Dr.  Luke  S.  Coons  came  in  1835  and  was  the  first  physician  here. 

In  the  fall  of  1820  Richard  Chapman  purchased  a  pair  of  millstones  and 
fitted  up  a  band  mill.  Up  until  1823  the  settlers  were  dependent  upon  this  mill 
for  their  bread  stuffs.  In  the  latter  year  John  Wood  built  a  horse  mill  on  Sil- 
ver creek,  a  few  miles  distant,  and  soon  thereafter  Stephen  Wilcox  erected  a  mill 
on  section  25.  In  due  course  of  time  these  gave  way  to  tread  mills,  water  mills 
and  steam  mills  in  their  order,  which  furnished  excellent  facilities  for  the  manu- 
facture of  flour. 

Telemachus  Camp  made  the  first  entry  of  land,  August  18,  1819,  on  section 
19,  his  place  comprising  one  hundred  and  sixty-three  acres.  On  the  2d  of  April, 
1825,  he  entered  eighty  acres  on  section  31.  December  22,  1828,  Nathaniel 
Buckmaster  entered  eighty  acres  on  section  29,  and  Rodger  Snell  entered  eighty 
acres  on  section  31. 

STAUNTON. 

The  town  of  Staunton  is  located  on  the  northwest  part  of  section  32  and  a 
small  portion  extends  into  section  29  and  section  31.  The  Wabash  railroad 
runs  along  the  east  side  of  the  town,  and  running  northeast  passes  through  the 
whole  length  of  the  township.  The  town  seems  to  have  been  started  by  the 
opening  of  a  store  by  Stephen  G.  Hicks  in  1831.  The  town  was  laid  out  in 
l&35>  by  David  Hendershot,  the  streets  running  north  and  south.  It  was  not  in- 
corporated, however,  until  the  23d  of  February,  1859. 

CHARTERED  AS   A  CITY. 

In  1891  Staunton  received  its  charter  as  a  city.  At  that  time  it  had  a  popu- 
lation of  2,209.  It  has  now  5,048  people  within  its  corporate  limits,  is  growing 
steadily  and  is  at  this  time  the  largest  city  in  Macoupin  county.  E.  E.  Godfrey 
was  the  first  mayor  under  the  city  charter  and  served  in  that  capacity  from 


382  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

1891  until  1899.  In  the  latter  year  he  was  succeeded  by  John  Coerver,  who  died 
in  August  of  that  year.  R.  M.  Purdy  was  acting  mayor  until  the  following  No- 
vember, when  E.  E.  Godfrey  was  appointed  to  fill  the  position.  His  successor, 
J.  H.  Harding,  was  elected  in  the  spring  of  1901  and  served  until  1903.  C.  F. 
Hackman  was  mayor  from  1903  until  1906,  when  George  H.  Luker  was  elected 
and  is  the  present  incumbent. 

CITY   HALL. 

In  1884,  what  was  then  considered  a  large  and  substantial  city  hall,  was 
erected.  It  is  a  two-story  brick  building  and  stands  on  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Wood  streets,  occupying  part  of  the  public  park.  It  has  outgrown  its  usefulness, 
has  been  condemned  as  being  unsafe,  and  it  is  only  a  question  of  a  short  time  when 
a  more  modern  structure  will  take  its  place.  In  this  building  are  the  council 
chamber,  city  offices,  and  fire  department.  The  city  is  well  policed  and  the  civil 
government  is  run  economically,  but  in  a  manner  which  shows  a  very  progres- 
sive spirit  on  the  part  of  the  citizens. 

ELECTRIC  LIGHT   PLANT. 

In  1896  the  city  constructed  an  electric  light  plant,  at  an  original  cost  of  about 
$10,000.  It  was  built  near  the  water  works  plant,  outside  the  corporate  limits, 
about  one  mile  from  the  city.  Subsequently,  it  was  removed  into  the  city  and 
housed  in  a  well  built  brick  structure,  and  at  various  times  improvements  have 
been  added  to  the  plant.  In  1911,  $9,000  was  spent  upon  this  utility.  Staunton 
citizens  take  a  great  pride  in  their  electric  light  establishment  and  claim  to  have 
one  of  the  best  plants  of  its  kind  in  this  section  of  the  state.  The  service  is  con- 
tinuous and  the  patronage  so  generous  that  the  city  is  enabled  to  light  the  streets 
practically  free  of  cost,  or  in  other  words,  the  electric  light  plant  is  self-sustaining. 

CITY  WATER  WORKS. 

Staunton  also  owns  its  water  works,  which  were  built  in  1888,  and  in  oper- 
ation the  latter  part  of  that  year.  This  improvement  is  built  upon  a  tract  of 
land  consisting  of  twenty-seven  acres.  Here  a  dam  was  constructed  at  a  cost  of 
some  $12,000.  There  is  a  brick  power  house,  wherein  are  installed  powerful 
pumps,  which  give  sufficient  pressure  for  any  emergency.  The  water  is  whole- 
some and  is  piped  throughout  the  city  to  many  consumers.  This  is  also  a  self- 
sustaining  city  utility  and  the  plant  itself  is  fully  worth  $50,000. 

A  WELL  BUILT  CITY. 

The  city  of  Staunton  is  not  only  the  largest  place  in  Macoupin  county,  but  its 
business  center  is  also  the  most  substantially  and  more  modernly  built  than  any 
other  town  in  the  county.  On  its  main  street  are  some  splendid  buildings,  devoted 
to  mercantile  purposes  and  its  streets  and  sidewalks  are  of  the  best.  There  are 
now  about  eighteen  blocks  of  brick  paving  and  many  miles  of  cement  sidewalk. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  383 

The  city  also  owns  a  beautiful  cemetery  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  place,  with- 
in the  corporate  limits. 

MINING  AND  OTHER  INDUSTRIES  OF  THE  CITY. 

The  chief  industry  of  Staunton  consists  in  the  mining  of  coal.  Mines  Nos. 
i  and  2  of  the  Mt.  Olive  &  Staunton  Coal  Company  are  located  on  the  Litchfield 
&  Madison  railway — which  runs  through  the  city — near  the  north  line  of  Madi- 
son county,  Illinois,  about  one  and  a  half  miles  from  Staunton.  These  mines 
rank  high  among  the  important  producers  of  the  state  of  Illinois.'  The  com- 
pany is  an  Illinois  corporation,  having  its  offices  in  Staunton.  This  coal  is  largely 
used  for  domestic  purposes  and  is  a  very  superior  steam  product.  It  is  also  a 
famous  coal  in  the  large  clay  burning  districts  near  St.  Louis. 

Staunton  also  has  an  artificial  ice  plant,  which  was  built  by  Paul  Walters 
and  Charles  Becker,  in  1896. 

POSTAL  SAVINGS   BANK. 

H.  A.  Fischer  is  the  postmaster  at  this  place.  Under  the  direction  of  the  de- 
partment at  Washington  he  opened  a  postal  savings  bank  on  June  27,  1911, 
one  of  the  first  to  be  established  by  the  government  in  the  state  of  Illinois.  The 
first  deposit  made  at  this  office  was  for  $100,  by  a  farmer,  on  the  day  that  the 
innovation  was  started,  and  at  the  time  the  office  closed  for  receiving  deposits 
on  that  first  day,  $1,100  had  been  taken  in  by  the  postmaster.  Since  the  open- 
ing of  the  system  at  Staunton,  the  average  daily  deposits  have  amounted  to 
$800.  This  clearly  demonstrates  the  virtue  of  the  government's  postal  savings 
banks. 

The  first  postmaster  here  was  Dr.  Coons.  His  successors  were :  Hugh  Cald- 
well,  Thomas  Blair,  C.  Godfrey,  C.  Panhorst,  W.  F.  Hackman  and  D.  G.  William- 
son. The  present  incumbent,  H.  A.  Fischer,  was  appointed  by  President  Roose- 
velt, April  10,  1906,  and  by  President  Taft  on  the  23d  of  April,  1910. 

WALL  &  COMPANY,  BANKERS. 

The  banking  house  of  Wall  &  Company  was  established  in  1893  by  Hampton 
W.  Wall  and  J.  C.  Panhorst.  This  financial  concern  continued  in  business  until 
1898,  when  Mr.  Wall  died  and  at  his  death  Mr.  Panhorst  retired.  The  institu- 
tion then  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  sons  of  Mr.  Wall,  William  P.  and  Charles 
R.,  who  conducted  the  business  under  the  name  of  Wall  Brothers.  In  1901  Will- 
iam P.  Wall  secured  full  control  of  the  business  of  Wall  Brothers,  and  on  March 
I,  1902,  Cornelius  Godfrey  secured  an  interest  in  the  concern  and  since  that 
time  the  business  has  been  conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  Wall  &  Company, 
Bankers,  William-  P.  Wall,  president;  and  C.  Godfrey,  cashier.  The  bank's  re- 
sponsibilities are  $100,000. 

WALL   &   QUADE,   BANKERS. 

In  1902,  after  retiring  from  the  Wall  Brothers  bank,  Charles  R.  Wall  and 
Otto  E.  Quade.  under  the  firm  name  of  Wall  &  Quade,  established  a  banking 


384  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

institution.  It  is  located  in  the  corner  of  the  Quade-Miller-Hackman  block.  Here 
are  well  appointed  banking  rooms,  in  which  is  a  beautiful  vault,  the  outer  walls 
of  which  are  covered  with  onyx  and  the  inner  walls  steel  lined.  In  this  vault 
is  a  Mosler  safe  and  safety  deposit  boxes.  Both  these  banks  are  among  the 
strong  financial  institutions  of  Staunton. 

LIBRARY   AND  LODGES. 

Staunton  has  a  library  of  several  hundred  volumes  and  an  active  commercial 
club,  the  members  of  which  have  an  eye  single  toward  the  interests  of  the  city. 
There  are  numerous  lodges,  a  few  of  which  are  here  mentioned :  Staunton 
Camp,  No.  572,  M.  W.  A.;  Parnassus  Lodge,  No.  581,  K.  P.;  Staunton  Lodge, 
No.  177,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Royal  Neighbors;  Musicians  Protective  Union  Local 
No.  219;  St.  Michael's  Branch,  No.  32;  Western  Catholic  Union;  Eastern  Star; 
Red  Men,  Odd  Fellows,  Ben  Hurs  and  others. 

NORTH    OTTER  TOWNSHIP. 

North  Otter  is  situated  in  the  northern  tier  of  townships  and  comprises  town- 
ship 12  north,  range  7  west.  The  township  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Sanga- 
mon  county,  on  the  west  by  North  Palmyra,  on  the  south  by  South  Otter  and  on 
the  east  by  Virden  and  Girard  townships.  It  took  its  name  from  Otter  creek, 
which  flows  through  the  eastern  part  of  the  township,  and  it  was  so  called  from 
the  fact  that  in  early  times  large  numbers  of  otters  were  found  on  the  banks  of 
this  creek. 

In  1829  the  following  settlers  came  to  this  locality:  Hugh  Gibson,  John 
Pope,  John  Chandler,  Jesse  Cox,  John  Stewart  and  G.  L.  McGinnis.  All  brought 
their  families  with  them.  William  C.  Crump  came  in  1833,  while  the  year  1834 
witnessed  the  arrival  of  W.  C.  Alderson. 

The  first  birth  in  the  township  was  that  of  William  H.  Cox,  on  the1  22d  of 
November,  1829. 

The  first  preacher  in  the  locality  was  "Uncle  Johnny"  Stewart,  a  local  preacher 
of  the  Methodist  church.  The  Methodist  denomination  erected  the  first  church 
here  about  1866. 

The  first  school  was  taught  by  George  Boggess. 

The"  first  mill  was  erected  by  Thomas  Sprouse.  It  was  operated  by  horse 
power. 

Dr.  Goode  located  here  in  the  '303  and  began  the  practice  of  medicine.  He 
was  the  only  practitioner  here  until  the  arrival  of  Dr.  Chapman  in  1876. 

The  first  two  entries  of  land  were  made  in  1828  by  Owen  T.  Merry  and  Har- 
din  Lodsdew,  each  entering  eighty  acres  on  section  19,  in  the  month  of  Novem- 
ber. In  February,  1829,  James  McGinnis  entered  a  like  amount  on  section  19. 

SOUTH  OTTER  TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  is  located  in  what  is  geographically  known  as  township  n,  range 
7  west,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  North  Otter  township,  on  the  west  by 


ST.  1'AU/S  KVAN'CKUCAL  ClirUCH 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  385 

South  Palmyra,  on  the  south  by  Carlinville  and  on  the  east  by  Nilwood  town- 
ship. In  the  eastern  and  southern  portions  the  land  is  mostly  prairie  and  is  a 
rich,  black  soil,  while  in  the  northwestern  portion  some  timber  is  to  be  found, 
including  oak,  hickory  and  cottomvood.  The  general  surface  is  undulating  but 
near  the  creeks  the  bluffs  are  quite  abrupt  and  the  soil  is  mostly  clay.  The  land 
is  afforded  good  drainage  by  Otter  creek  and  its  tributaries.  A  portion  of  the 
village  of  Nilwood  is  located  in  the  eastern  part  of  this  township. 

The  first  settler  in  the  township  was  a  man  by  name  of  Days,  who  moved 
a  log  house  across  Otter  creek  from  South  Palmyra  township.  The  first  new 
buildings  were  erected  by  Samuel  and  Henry  Miller.  Other  of  the  early  settlers 
were  Irvin  and  Martin  Ptillam,  Joel  Bond,  Alvey  Graves,  William  Etter,  Comfort 
Smith,  Samuel  Clark,  David  Davidson,  J.  Adams,  T.  S.  Barrow,  M.  M.  Ross, 
Robert  and  Thomas  Bacon,  G.  D.  Crawford  and  others. 

M.  P.  Pullam  entered  the  first  land  in  the  township,  November  8,  1831,  ninety- 
two  acres  on  section  2.  Peter  Lair  entered  forty  acres  on  section  6,  December 
5.  1833,  while  Casper  Rowland  entered  forty  acres  on  section  10,  in  May,  1834. 

The  first  physician  to  locate  here  was  Dr.  Vance. 

William  M.  Clark,  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  Clark,  was  the  first  child  born 
in  the  township,  his  birth  occurring  March  14,  1838. 

The  first  death  was  in  September,  1838,  that  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Miller,  at  the 
home  of  her  son,  on  section  30. 

In  1837  Samuel  Raffurty  and  a  Mrs.  Hoover  were  married,  which  was  the 
first  in  the  township. 

At  an  early  day  a  schoolhouse  was  erected  on  section  30  and  Mrs.  Mary 
Bacon  was  the  first  teacher.  She  was  succeeded  by  Annie  Dorman. 

In  1839  Mrs.  Mary  Bacon  organized  the  first  Sunday  school  in  the  town- 
ship at  her  home  on  section  19. 

Rev.  William  Vance,  a  Methodist,  and  a  Rev.  Williams,  a  Presbyterian, 
conducted  services  in  the  schoolhouse  on  section  30.  at  an  early  day.  The  Bap- 
tist church  at  Hickory  Point,  erected  in  1869,  was  the  first  in  this  district. 

Daniel  Snyder  was  the  first  carpenter  in  the  township. 

A  horse  power  mill  on  section  30,  built  by  Henry  Miller,  was  the  first  in  the 
township.  It  was  a  sawmill,  and  was  abandoned  about  the  year  1850. 

There  is  no  village  in  this  township. 

r.II.LESPIE    TOWNSHIP. 

Gillespie  township  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Brushy  Mound,  on  the  east 
by  Cahokia,  on  the  south  by  Dorchester  and  on  the  west  by  Hilyard  townships. 
It  was  named  in  honor  of  Judge  Joseph  Gillespie  by  the  managers  of  the  In-  ' 
dianapolis  &  St.  Louis  railroad.  The  soil  is  of  yellow  clay,  mixed  with  sand 
near  the  streams  but  back  from  the  streams  the  soil  is  a  deep  black  loam  and 
very  productive.  The  township  is  drained  by  the  Dry  fork  and  its  branches  and 
along  the  streams  in  early  times  was  found  a  heavy  growth  of  timber,  mostly  oak. 
The  southern  and  eastern  portions  are  mostly  prairie,  which  are  laid  out  in  finely 
cultivated  farms.  The  southeastern  portion  of  the  township  is  drained  by  the 
Little  Cahokia  creek. 


386  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

The  first  land  entry  was  made  October  28,  1825.  by  Michael  Dodd,  when  he 
became  the  possessor  of  eighty  acres  on  section  15.  Three  years  later,  Septem- 
ber 15,  1828,  Dennis  Davis  entered  eighty  acres  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 2.  September  29,  1829,  B.  Nowlin  and  J.  G.  White  each  entered  a  tract  of 
eighty  acres  on  section  14. 

The  first  house  was  built  by  John  Wright  on  section  2.    This  was  in  1828. 

The  year  1829  witnessed  the  arrival  of  several  families,  among  whom  were 
Alexander  Miller  and  Abraham  Huddleston,  Jr.,  who  settled  on  section  3 ;  and  a 
widow  by  the  name  of  McCafee,  also  Dennis  Davis,  both  of  whom  settled  on 
section  2. 

In  1830  Aaron  Maxwell  settled  on  section  22.  while  Gabriel  Maxwell  settled 
on  section  21. 

In  1831  James  Robinson  settled  on  section  29,  Arter  Taylor  on  section  5,  and 
Giles  Adams  on  section  17. 

Daniel  Huddleston  arrived  here  in  1832  and  made  a  permanent  location  on 
section  5. 

In  1833  A.  Jackson  Rose  settled  on  section  21  and  Andrew  Clark  settled  on 
the  same  section,  while  George  Harlan  entered  land  on  section  2. 

Soon  after  coining  here  in  1833,  George  Harlan  built  a  horse  mill  on  section 
2,  which  was  the  first  in  the  township. 

It  is  not  known  who  was  the  first  child  born  but  it  is  known  that  in  the  fall 
of  1830  a  child  was  born  in  each  of  the  homes  of  John  Wright  and  Gabriel 
McKinzie. 

In  the  year  1831  or  1832  Louisa  Huddleston,  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Judah 
Huddleston,  aged  eighteen  months  died  and  was  buried  on  section  3.  This  was 
the  first  death  in  the  township. 

The  first  schoolhouse  was  constructed  of  logs  in  the  fall  of  1835  and  was 
located  on  section  3.  Alexander  Walls  and  a  Mr.  Moore  taught  here  in  early 
times  but  it  is  not  known  which  was  the  first  teacher. 

The  first  sermon  in  the  township  was  preached  in  the  home  of  Daniel  Hud- 
dleston, on  section  5,  by  Pleasant  Lamay,  a  Baptist  clergyman.  He  preached  in 
the  different  homes  and  in  the  schoolhouse  until  a  church  was  erected,  which 
was  in  1834,  and  was  located  on  section  5.  Rev.  Lamay  was  the  first  to  preach 
in  the  new  church  and  continued  to  hold  religious  services  here  until  the  time 
of  his  death.  In  1854  a  larger  and  more  modern  building  was  erected,  Alva 
Huddleston  and  Nicholas  Grimes  doing  the  carpenter  work.  Rev.  William  Fitz- 
gerald delivered  the  first  sermon  in  the  new  building.  The  first  Sunday  school 
was  organized  in  1848  and  the  superintendent  was  Henry  Fishback. 

Giles  Adams  was  the  first  postmaster  and  the  mail  was  kept  in  his  home  on  sec- 
tion 17.  This  office  was  established  in  1854  and  prior  to  that  time  the  mail  was 
carried  by  stage  on  the  line  running  between  Carlinville  and  Bunker  Hill. 

The  first  election  was  also  held  in  Mr.  Adams'  home  in  1835.  The  settlers 
considered  this, a  great  convenience  as  they  had  formerly  gone  to  Carlinville  to 
vote. 

The  first  blacksmith  shop  was  erected  by  Daniel  Adams,  father  of  Giles  Adams, 
in  1834. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  387 

The  first  store  was  opened  in  the  summer  of  1834  on  section  3,  by  John 
Foster. 

The  first  tavern  was  conducted  by  a  Mr.  Abrahams  at  Dry  Point,  on  section 
15,  and  was  opened  in  1833. 

GILLESPIE. 

The  town  of  Gillespie  is  located  on  section  24.  The  original  proprietor  was 
Philander  C.  Huggins  and  it  was  surveyed  by  J.  B.  Meads  in  the  spring  of  1853. 
In  1855  an  addition  known  as  Huggins'  first  addition  was  made  on  the  north  side 
and  in  the  following  year,  1856,  S.  H.  Burton  made  an  addition  on  the  south  side. 

The  first  building  in  the  town  was  erected  in  1853  by  B.  F.  Clark,  the  lower 
floor  being  used  as  a  store  room,  while  the  upper  story  was  used  as  a  dwelling. 

In  1854  the  postoffice  was  moved  from  Giles  Adams'  residence  to  the  store  of 
B.  F.  Clark  and  the  first  postmaster  here  was  Thomas  Chandler. 

The  first  hotel,  a  frame  building,  was  put  up  by  S.  D.  Martin  in  the  spring 
of  1856  and  was  known  as  the  National  Hotel. 

The  first  mill  was  built  by  Settlemire,  Rankin  &  Holmes  in  1859.  O°  Janu- 
ary 14,  1864,  William  Robinson,  engineer,  and  Lewis  Zinzer,  miller,  were  killed 
by  the  explosion  of  the  engine. 

The  first  blacksmith  shop  was  built  and  conducted  by  McGoern  &  Berning. 

Dr.  Isaac  Osborn  came  here  in  1855  and  began  the  practice  of  medicine. 

In  1855  Jacob  Querbach  built  a  wagon  shop  and  in  the  same  year  a  school- 
house  was  erected  and  a  Mr.  Williams  became  the  first  teacher. 

The  schoolhouse  also  served  as  a  place  of  worship  until  1863,  when  the  Epis- 
copalians built  a  church  and  Rev.  Dresser  served  as  pastor  for  a  time.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  Mitchell. 

The  same  year  the  Methodist  denomination  built  a  house  of  worship  and 
Rev.  Morrison  served  as  their  first  pastor.  The  German  Lutheran  church  was 
erected  in  the  fall  of  1869.  The  first  Sunday  school  was  organized  in  the 
schoolhouse  in  1856.  This  church  now  has  a  beautiful  pressed  brick  house  of 
worship  and  a  comfortable  parsonage.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  L.  Krekler. 

The  records  of  the  Methodist  church,  now  at  hand,  would  show  that  the 
church  was  organized  about  1850.  Abram  Isaacs  and  wife  Mary,  D.  K.  Camp- 
bell and  a  number  of  others  were  charter  members.  At  the  time  mentioned  it 
was  a  mission  in  the  Alton  district,  with  an  appropriation  of  $100  of  missionary 
money.  Rev.  R.  Randall  was  the  first  pastor.  Five  years  later  the  church 
numbered  about  ninety  members,  and  its  property  was  valued  at  about  $500.  In 
1857  J.  D.  Gilham  was  pastor  and  the  church  numbered  one  hundred  and  ten 
members.  Rev.  Gilham  was  succeeded  by  T.  M.  Boyle  in  1858.  He  had  in- 
creased the  membership  to  one  hundred  and  ninety.  That  same  year  the  church 
was  transferred  to  the  Litchfield  district  and  T.  W.  Jones  was  the  pastor.  Among 
the  early  pastors  of  this  church  may  be  mentioned  Asa  Snell,  J.  S.  Morrison, 
W.  F.  Davis,  George  T.  Weaver,  C.  J.  Tolle,  A.  Bliss,  S.  Walker,  N.  D.  Shack- 
elford,  T.  A.  Eaton,  S.  T.  English,  S.  P.  Grove  and  R.  H.  Massey.  In  1864  a 
new  church  was  built  on  the  corner  of  Macoupin  and  Spruce  streets,  which  was 
used  until  1910.  The  building,  which  was  a  frame,  was  then  moved  off  its 


38b  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

foundation  to  its  present  location,  a  block  east  on  the  corner  of  Spruce  and 
Madison,  and  now  forms  a  part  of  a  new  building  of  frame,  constructed  in  the 
year  last  above  mentioned,  at  a  cost  of  about  $8,000. 

The  membership  of  this  church  now  numbers  about  125.  The  attendance  at 
the  Sabbath  school  is  275.  The  present  pastor,  C.  H.  Spragg,  succeeded  Rev. 
Samuel  Thero,  in  1911. 

St.  Catherine's  and  Gude's  Catholic  church  has  long  been  established  at  this 
place.  In  1879  a  commodious  frame  building  was  erected  to  accommodate  its 
members,  which  at  that  time  numbered  about  one  hundred.  The  church  was  en- 
larged and  improved  in  1902  and  in  1910  a  rectory  was  built  for  the  pastor. 
The  value  of  the  entire  property  amounts  to  about  $16,000.  Rev.  Thomas  Cros- 
son  is  the  pastor. 

There  are  a  Christian  and  Baptist  organization  in  Gillespie,  both  long  estab- 
lished, but  now  weak  in  numbers.  Services  are  held  at  the  Baptist  church  every 
other  Sunday  by  J.  M.  Gwinn,  -of  Staunton.  The  Christians  have  no  regular 
minister. 

THE    CITY    DESTROYED    BY    FIRE. 

January  29,  1905,  Gillespie  was  visited  by  a  destructive  fire,  which  entirely 
wiped  out  the  business  section.  Nothing  daunted,  the  citizens  at  once  began  to 
rebuild  and  today  the  main  street  of  this  pretty  little  city  has  on  each  side  of  it 
modern  and  tastefully  built  brick  structures  that  would  be  an  adornment  to  any 
place.  This  main  thoroughfare,  named  Macoupin,  is  100  feet  wide.  In  the  center 
is  the  track  of  the  Illinois  Traction  System,  one  of  the  greatest  interurban  rail- 
roads in  the  world.  Early  in  the  summer  seasons  for  the  past  three  years  the 
main  street  has  been  sprinkled  with  oil.  The  citizens  have  found  this  method  to 
be  preferable  to  sprinkling  with  water  and  much  less  expensive. 

POPULATION  INCREASES. 

In  1904  the  population  of  Gillespie  was  1,716.  The  federal  census  of  1910 
gave  it  3,075.  Shortly  after  this  census  was  made  public,  a  school  census  was 
taken,  which  increased  the  number  to  3,160. 

LARGEST    MINES   IN    THE    WORLD. 

The  chief  industry  of  Gillespie  and  the  section  surrounding  it  is  the  mining 
of  coal,  and  it  is  said  that  three  of  the  largest  mines  in  the  world  are  located  at 
this  point.  They  are  owned  and  operated  by  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Rail- 
road Company  which  places  none  of  its  product  on  the  market.  It  is  therefore 
presumed  that  this  great  railroad  system  uses  the  coal  in  the  operation  of  its  own 
rolling  stock. 

PROPOSED   CITY    HALL. 

In  the  spring  of  1911  the  citizens  of  Gillespie  voted  on  the  proposition  of  is- 
suing bonds  to  the  extent  of  $8,000.  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  city  hall.  The 
proposition  carried  and  bids  were  made  on  the  structure,  but  rejected.  New  plans 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  389 

for  the  improvement  are  now  being  made.  The  hall  will  be  constructed  of  brick 
and  two  stories  in  height.  Provisions  will  be  made  for  a  council  chamber,  jail, 
fire  department,  and  other  public  conveniences.  The  city  has  a  volunteer  fire  de- 
partment. The  paraphernalia  consists  of  a  chemical  engine  and  hose  carts.  Of 
the  police  force,  there  is  a  marshal  and  two  night  patrolmen. 

ELECTRIC  LIGHT  PLANT. 

The  city  is  well  lighted  by  an  electric  plant,  built  in  1890,  by  private  parties. 
Frank  Edwards  of  Benld  is  president  of  the  concern  and  C.  W.  Smith,  of  Gilles- 
pie, manager.  The  city  has  a  continuous  service. 

OTHER  FEATURES. 

Gillespie  is  without  a  water  works,  or  sewerage  system  but  the  city  is  so  pros- 
perous and  its  people  are  so  energetic  and  enterprising  that  it  is  only  a  question 
of  a  short' time  before  these  necessary  utilities  will  be  installed.  However,  the 
citizens  here  take  great  pride  in  their  sidewalks.  Within  the  last  three  years 
there  have  been  laid  twenty  miles  of  granitoid  walks.  Five  years  ago  there  were 
but  two  blocks  of  them.  In  1897  a  commodious  and  tastefully  built  two-story 
frame  opera  house  was  erected,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  350,  by  H.  F.  Mein- 
ecke  and  others. 

MINERS  HOMES. 

Gillespie  can  well  pride  herself  on  the  appearance  and  construction  of  the 
company  homes  for  miners.  One  does  not  see  here  long,  forbidding  looking  rows 
of  shacks,  without  any  shade  trees  or  other  comforts  surrounding  them.  On  the 
contrary,  there  is  a  diversity  in  the  appearance  of  the  buildings.  Each  take  on 
the  cottage  design,  are  painted,  and  really  look  home  like,  as  they  should.  In 
1910  the  Northwestern  established  repair  yards  at  Gillespie  for  its  coal  cars.  Here 
2,000  cars  are  used  each  day  in  handling  coal.  That  means  that  many  need  re- 
pairs and  seventy-five  men  are  employed  in  the  shops  on  that  work. 

SOCIETIES. 

Like  all  other  progressive  little  cities,  Gillespie  has  her  societies,  chief  among 
which  may  be  mentioned  the  Masons,  Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Wood- 
men, Red  Men,  Owls,  Hibernians,  and  Foresters.  There  is  a  post  here  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  which  was  once  quite  strong  in  its  membership, 
but  at  this  time  only  five  of  them  answer  to  the  roll  call  at  its  meetings. 

FINANCIAL   INSTITUTIONS. 

The  city  of  Gillespie  has  two  strong  financial  concerns  in  the  Gillespie  Na- 
tional Bank  and  the  Bank  of  Gillespie.  The  first  was  organized  October  i,  1905, 
by  H.  H.  Behrens,  H.  W.  Rice,  J.  K.  McDavid,  Marvel  Thomas,  J.  M.  Rodiner, 
G.  W.  Smith,  Sr.,  P.  H.  Dorsey,  Sr.,  Thomas  Elliman,  Edward  Lane  and  others. 


390  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

H.'H.  Behrens  was  the  first  president;  M.  Thomas,  vice  president;  and  W.  J. 
Joyce,  cashier.  The  bank  was  capitalized  at  $50,000.  The  present  officials  are : 
President,  J.  M.  Rodiner;  vice  president,  Thomas  E.  Elliman;  cashier,  H.  W. 
Rice ;  assistant  cashier,  W.  E.  Cavanaugh.  Directors,  J.  E.  Barringer,  Joe  Quer- 
bach,  J.  P.  Querbach,  P.  H.  Dorsey,  H.  F.  Bycroft,  Sr.,  H.  W.  Rice,  J.  M.  Rodi- 
ner, Thomas  Elliman,  J.  K.  McDavid. 

The  Bank  of  Gillespie  was  established  in  1894  by  S.  M.  Grubbs  and  E.  R. 
Davis,  of  Litchfield,  under  the  firm  name  of  Grubbs,  Davis  &  Company.  About 
1900  Mr.  Davis  retired  and  E.  I.  Miller  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Litch- 
field assumed  his  interest  in  the  concern,  which  then  took  the  title  of  the  Bank 
of  Gillespie.  It  took  the  firm  name  of  Grubbs,  Miller  &  Isaacs,  the  latter  gentle- 
man having  entered  the  firm  in  1897.  In  1906  this  company  erected  its  bank 
building,  which  was  the  first  new  structure  put  up  after  the  coal  industry  was 
established. 

DORCHESTER  TOWNSHIP. 

Dorchester  township  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Gillespie,  on  the  east  by 
Staunton,  on  the  south  by  Madison  county  and  on  the  west  by  Bunker  Hill  town- 
ship. The  district  is  drained  by  Cahokia  creek  and  the  west  fork  of  Cahokia 
and  its  tributaries,  which  runs  through  the  central  portion  from  north  to  south. 
In  former  years  the  land  along  these  streams  was  heavily  timbered  but  much  of 
it  has  been  cut  off  for  fencing  and  for  other  purposes.  It  is  a  rich  farming  district. 

The  first  settler  in  this  township  was  a  Mr.  Williams,  who  came  here  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  year  1818.  He  was  a  "squatter"  and  it  is  not  certain  that  he 
ever  owned  any  land  here.  He  removed  to  Missouri  in  1833. 

The  first  land  entries  were:  October  9,  1820,  eighty  acres  on  section  24,  by 
Richard  Wilhelm;  March  n,  1829,  forty  acres  on  section  n,  by  Charles  G. 
Spence;  January  25.  1830,  Telemachus  Camp. 

At  first  the  settlers  sought  land  in  the  edge  of  the  timber  but  after  a  time  they 
began  to  push,  out  on  the  prairies.  In  1829  the  following  people  came  to  the 
township :  William  McKenney,  who  settled  on  section  1 1  ;  Thomas  Grant,  sec- 
tion 35 ;  John  Funderburk,  section  23. 

In  1830  came  Valentine  Sawyer,  who  located  on  section  13;  William  Davis, 
section  22;  Abraham  Smith,  section  34. 

The  year  1831  witnessed  the  arrival  here  of  Daniel  B.  Sawyer,  who  located 
on  section  10,  while  in  1832  he  was  followed  by  Thomas  Hart,  who  settled  on 
section  23.  In  1833,  Abraham  Isaacs,  made  a  permanent  settlement  on  section 
i ;  in  1834,  John  Walker,  located  on  section  16;  in  1835,  Joseph  Walker  on  sec- 
tion 35;  Cleveland  Walker  on  section  5;  in  1836,  David  Bentley  on  section  27; 
and  in  1837  Dana  R.  Hayden  located  on  section  4,  while  William  Purdy  settled 
on  section  23. 

The  first  birth  was  a  child  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Telemachus  Camp,  in  1820. 

John  A.  Funderburk  performed  the  first  marriage  ceremony,  when  he  united 
Daniel  B.  Sawyer  and  Miss  Minerva  Scroggins. 

The  first  deaths  in  the  township  were  two  children  of  Telemachus  Camp  from 
the  years  1824  to  1826.  They  were  buried  on  his  farm,  which  was  the  begin- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  391 

ning  of  the  first  cemetery  in  the  township.  Later  others  were  buried  on  his 
farm,  twelve  or  fourteen  in  all. 

The  first  sermon  was  preached  in  Mr.  Camp's  home  in  1829  by  a  traveling 
missionary  of  the  Baptist  denomination.  Peter  Long  was  instrumental  in  or- 
ganizing the  first  Baptist  church  here  in  1836.  The  first  church  to  be  erected  was 
by  the  Christian  denomination  at  Round  prairie,  on  section  32,  in  the  year  1852. 
The  first  ministers  were  Robert  Foster  and  Jonathan  G.  Wood.  The  first  Sun- 
day school  was  organized  in  1870  and  was  held  in  a  schoolhouse. 

The  first  mill  in  the  township  was  operated  by  horse  power  and  erected  on 
section  7  by  Valentine  Sawyer.  Every  one  who  came  to  mill  did  his  own  grind- 
ing, giving  in  payment  one-eighth  of  the  grain. 

The  first  schoolhouse  was  built  in  1839  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
n.  It  was  built  of  logs.  The  first  teacher  was  Jeremiah  Wilcox. 

The  first  postoffice  was  kept  at  Dorchester  by  William  T.  Keas. 

The  first  steam  sawmill  was  erected  in  1850  on  section  24. 

The  first  blooded  cattle  brought  into  the  township  was  by  Henry  Bowers. 

In  1855-56  the  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis  railroad  built  their  line  through  the 
northwest  portion  of  the  township,  thereby  furnishing  facilities  for  the  shipment 
of  grain  and  produce. 

DORCHESTER. 

The  village  of  Dorchester  is  located  on  sections  4  and  5  of  Dorchester  town- 
ship, and  sections  32  and  33,  Gillespie  township.  It  took  its  name  from  Dor- 
chester Heights  and  the  township  later  took  the  same  name. 

Alonzo  Cutler  was  the  original  proprietor  of  the  village  and  it  was  through 
his  efforts  that  a  railroad  station  was  established  at  this  place.  In  1859  Fletcher 
H.  Chapman  made  the  survey.  In  the  spring  of  1861  was  laid  out  P.  R.  Hay- 
den's  addition  on  the  southeast  side  of  the  village.  In  1866  Hayden's  second 
addition  was  laid  out.  A  depot  was  built  in  the  spring  of  1861  and  about  the 
same  time  William  Whitfield  erected  a  building  which  he  used  for  a  dwelling 
and  a  store.  In  the  summer  of  1860  Mr.  Hayden  built  a  side  track  on  the  south 
side  of  the  railroad  and  put  up  a  small  warehouse  for  grain.  He  rented  this 
building  to  B.  F.  Williamson  but  in  the  spring  of  1861  took  possession  of  it 
himself. 

The  first  hotel  in  the  town  was  built  in  1866  by  Thomas  Potts. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  a  Mr.  Duncan  and  Miss  S.  Grant. 

A  Methodist  church  was  erected  in  1868,  and  the  first  preacher  was  Rev. 
Morris. 

A  Christian  church  was  erected  in  1874  and  the  first  minister  was  Rev.  David 
Davis.  Prior  to  the  erection  of  these  houses  of  worship  union  services  were  held 
in  a  hall  owned  by  P.  R.  Hayden. 

The  first  schoolhouse  was  built  in  1869  and  the  first  teacher  was  James  Ayres. 

Dorchester  is  now  a  village  of  102  inhabitants.  The  town  is  situated  on  the 
line  between  Dorchester  and  Gillespie  townships  and  the  people  are  equally  divided 
between  the  two  of  them. 


392  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

NORTH   PALMYRA  TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  lies  in  the  extreme  northern  portion  of  the  county.  It  is 
geographically  known  as  township  12,  range  8  west,  and  contains  23,040  acres  of 
land.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Morgan  county,  on  the  east  by  North  Otter 
township,  on  the  south  by  South  Palmyra  and  on  the  west  by  Scottville  town- 
ships. There  is  some  timber  to  be  found  here  but  the  land  is  mostly  a  fertile 
prairie,  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Apple  creek  drains  the  northern  por- 
tion, while  the  east  side  is  drained  by  Massey  creek,  the  central  and  southern 
portions  by  Solomon's  creek  and  the  western  portion  by  Joe's  creek. 

The  first  man  to  settle  in  this  township  was  John  Cummings,  who  came 
with  his  family  in  August,  1824.  He  was  followed  by  Jonas  Thompson  and 
family  who  came  in  the  same  year.  In  1825  Mrs.  Woodring  and  family  came 
and  in  the  fall  of  1826  Elijah  Wills  and  his  family  made  a  permanent  location  in 
the  township.  On  the  2jih  of  March,  1827,  Judge  Lewis  Solomon,  Sr.,  came 
here  from  Morgan  county  and  located  on  section  20.  Solomon's  creek  was  named 
in  his  honor.  The  district  in  which  he  located  was  afterward  known  as  Eagle's 
point  and  received  its  name  from  the  following  circumstance :  When  Judge 
Solomon  came  to  the  county  to  look  for  a  location,  he  burned  off  several  patches 
of  prairie  and  as  the  fire  neared  the  timber  a  large  number  of  spotted  eagles  flew 
around.  These  eagles  are  found  only  in  new  and  unsettled  country.  Here 
Judge  Solomon,  assisted  by  his  sons  James  and  Lewis,  erected  a  log  cabin,  which 
had  no  windows,  the  only  light  in  the  building  being  received  through  the  door 
and  chimney. 

In  the  fall  of  1828  William  Norvill  and  family  came  from  Sumner  county, 
Tennessee,  and  settled  on  section  23. 

The  first  man  to  enter  land  was  Jonathan  Thompson,  February  17,  1827.  He 
entered  eighty  acres  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  4.  Ezekiel  Springer  en- 
tered eighty  acres  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  3,  on  the  I2th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1827.  The  third  entry  was  made  by  E.  C.  Vancil,  January  19,  1828,  which 
comprised  eighty  acres  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  4. 

After  this  time  settlers  came  in  quite  rapidly.  John  Nevins,  Sr.,  came  from 
Madison  county  in  1827  and  bought  the  improvements  of  Elijah  Wills.  In  the 
same  year  John  Nevins,  Jr.  and  John  Scott,  with  their  families,  arrived  and  set- 
tled on  section  7.  William  Nevins,  the  father  of  John,  came  and  settled  on  the 
same  section.  Jacob  Nifong  came  here  in  1828  and  bought  the  improvements  of 
John  Nevins.  James  Howard  came  from  Morgan  county  in  1828.  He  married 
a  daughter  of  Judge  Solomon  and  became  the  first  schoolteacher  in  the  township. 
Alexander  Carson  came  from  Kentucky  and  settled  on  section  28.  This  was  in 
the  spring  of  1828.  The  same  year  I.  B.  Vancil  and  Spencer  Norvill  came  and 
settled  in  the  township.  Aaron  Turner  and  Larkin  Richardson  arrived  in  1829. 
In  1830  John  Cherry  and  Russell,  William,  Henry  and  John  Taber  arrived  in 
the  township.  All  settled  just  north  of  the  present  site  of  Palmyra.  Robert 
Ross  came  in  1829  or  1830  and  settled  on  section  27.  Joseph  King  came  in  1829. 
locating  on  section  28.  His  brother  David  joined  him  here  in  1835.  James 
Pocklington,  an  Englishman,  came  with  his  family  in  August,  1830.  Isham  Gib- 
son was  an  early  settler. 


GIRARD   COAL   MIN7E 


0-     <•!* 


ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  393 

hi  1831  the  following  came:  James  Young  and  family,  Newton  Berry, 
Stephen  Jones  and  Stephen  Robertson.  The  latter  purchased  the  improvements 
on  section  33,  made  by  Russell  Taber.  William  Sims  also  came  this  year  and 
his  brother  George  had  preceded  him  here  in  1829.  William  Rice  came  here  from 
Kentucky  in  1830,  locating  on  section  33.  The  same  year  William  Hodges  set- 
tled on  section  34.  John  B.  Clevenger  came  with  his  father  in  the  year  1830. 
Daniel  Chapman  was  here  in  1831  and  Garrett  Davis  was  here  the  year  pre- 
vious, as  was  also  James  Bryant  and  family,  who  settled  on  section  2.  Clai- 
bourne  Gooch,  who  had  a  large  family,  came  here  from  Kentucky  in  1833,  set- 
tling on  section  29.  Jasper  Rice,  also  a  Kentuckian  settled  on  section  28,  in  the 
year  1832.  Jonathan  Landreth  came  here  in  1833  from  Virginia.  John  Cotts 
came  from  Kentucky  in  1835  and  settled  on  section  22.  He  married  a  Miss  Wise 
after  coming  to  the  township.  In  1835  Thomas  Steward,  D.  A.  Pulliam  and 
Jesse  Berry  arrived,  while  in  the  following  year,  1836,  Lewis  O'Neal  and  Jos- 
eph Listen,  Sr.,  came. 

The  first  sermon  in  the  township  was  preached  at  the  home  of  Lewis  Solo- 
mon, Sr.  in  the  year  1827,  by  Austin  Sims,  a  Baptist.  Lewis  Solomon,  Sr.  and 
William  Hodges,  both  Baptists,  also  were  among  the  early  preachers  here.  Jacob 
Nifong,  who  was  of  the  Christian  faith,  also  was  an  early  preacher  here. 

The  Methodist  denomination  built  the  first  church  in  1840.  It  was  located  a 
mile  and  a  half  north  of  the  village  of  Palmyra  and  was  called  Bethel.  It  was 
constructed  of  hewed  logs  and  was  subsequently  used  for  school  purposes. 

The  first  schoolhouse  was  located  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  township,  on 
section  18,  and  built  in  1829.  It  was  first  conducted  as  a  subscription  school,  the 
teacher  being  James  Howard. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  Andrew  Thompson  and  Sarah  Woodring, 
Lewis  Solomon,  Sr.  performing  the  ceremony. 

'     The  first  child  born  in  the  township  was  in  1827,  a  son  of  Elijah  and  Drusilla 
Wills.     He  died  in  infancy. 

The  first  mill  was  erected  by  E.  C.  Vancil  and  was  run  by  horse  power. 
Prior  to  this  the  settlers  had  to  go  to  mill  at  a  place  now  known  as  Rockbridge. 

Dr.  George  Sims  located  here  in  1829  but  prior  to  that  time  E.  C.  Vancil 
practiced  medicine  to  some  extent.  Dr.  Palmer  arrived  here  a  little  later. 

The  first  justice  of  the  peace  was  Lewis  Solomon,  Sr.  He  was  elected  when 
Macoupin  county  formed  a  part  of  Greene  county.  Mr.  Solomon  also  introduced 
the  first  blooded  stock  in  the  township. 

The  first  blacksmith  shop  was  erected  on  land  belonging  to  Lewis  Solomon, 
Sr.,  and  was  operated  by  a  Mr.  Stratton. 

The  first  postoffice  was  established  in  1859  at  Vancil's  Point  at  the  residence 
of  Mr.  Solomon. 

SOUTH    PALMYRA   TOWNSHIP. 

South  Palmyra  township  occupies  the  congressional  town  1 1  north,  range 
8  west,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  North  Palmyra,  on  the  east  by  South  Ot- 
ter, on  the  south  by  Bird  and  on  the  west  by  Barr  township. 

The  first  settlers  in  this  township  were  Seth  Hodges  and  John  Love,  who 
came  about  the  year  1816.  Hodges'  creek  was  named  in  honor  of  Seth  Hodges. 


394  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Levi  Day  and  family  came  about  1824.  He  erected  a  small  cabin  and  began  to 
improve  a  farm.  George  Mathews  and  family  arrived  in  1827.  About  1823 
David  T.  Taylor  came  here  from  Tennessee  and  settled  on  the  creek  near  Seth 
Hodges.  He  afterward  moved  to  near  the  town  of  Palmyra  and  became  one 
of  the  first  constables  of  the  county.  Felix  Hoover  settled  here  in  1829,  and 
in  the  same  year  came  William  Hodges,  a  local  preacher.  Rev.  John  Howerton, 
a  Baptist  minister,  came  here  from  Tennessee  in  1830.  James  Cave  also  came 
about  the  same  time.  Isaac  Massey  came  from  Tennessee  in  1829.  Ezekiel 
Ross  settled  here  in  1833.  His  brother,  Robert  Ross,  and  family  settled  here 
about  1829,  but  after  a  few  'years  moved  to  South  Palmyra  and  located  on  sec- 
tion 8.  Judge  Samuel  Lair  arrived  here  about  1833.  Elijah  Wills  and  family 
came  from  Kentucky  and  after  spending  a  short  time  in  North  Palmyra  town- 
ship located  here  in  1832.  Andrew  Russell  and  John  G.  Chiles  were  also  early 
settlers,  the  latter  coming  in  1833.  Oakes  Shaw  came  here  in  1836. 

Felix  Hoover  is  supposed  to  have  raised  the  first  wheat  about  1830,  as  he 
broke  the  first  prairie  land  in  the  township. 

Other  early  settlers  were  W.  B.  and  James  Gardiner,  who  came  in  1836, 
and  Joseph  B.  Steidley  came  about  the  same  time  and  bought  the  improvements 
of  James  Solomon,  who  with  his  brother  Henry  had  come  in  1834. 

Seth  Hodges  made  the  first  entry  of  land  on  section  28,  December  23,  1823. 
He  had  lived  here  some  years  previously  as  a  "squatter."  The  next  entry  was 
made  by  Felix  Hoover,  April  10,  1829. 

W.  G.  Ross  came  here  from  Tennessee  in  1829  and  located  on  section  18. 
Baxter  M.  Skeen  came  in  1832.  B.  F.  Bivin  in  1834  and  Henry  Etter,  came 
from  Tennessee  in  1836.  M.  C.  Tongate  came  in  1837,  as  did  also  C.  P.  and 
Achilles  Tongate. 

The  land  in  this  township  is  well  drained  on  the  west  side  by  Solomon's 
creek,  through  the  central  portion  by  Massey  creek,  and  in  the  southeastern  por- 
tion by  Otter  creek.  The  oldest  cultivated  farms  in  this  section  were  near  the 
creeks  and  were  covered  with  timber  when  the  settlers  arrived.  Later  they 
branched  out  on  the  prairie,  which  has  also  proved  good  land  for  farming. 

The  first  school  was  held  in  a  log  building,  located  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  township.  James  Howard  taught  the  first  school  in  1831. 

The  first  church  was  erected  one  mile  south  of  the  present  town  of  Palmyra, 
It  was  constructed  of  hewed  logs  and  covered  with  split  boards.  The  first  regular 
minister  was  John  Howerton,  of  the  Baptist  faith. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  township  was  in  the  family  of  John  Love,  in  1824. 

The  first  marriage  occurred  in  August,  1828,  the  contracting  parties  being 
Theodoras  Davis  and  Jane  Burlson. 

The  first  mill  was  built  by  Andrew  Russell.  The  second  mill  was  erected  in 
J835  by  James  Cave,  near  the  present  town  of  Palmyra. 

PALMYRA. 

The  village  of  Palmyra  is  located  on  the  township  line  between  North  and 
South  Palmyra.  The  portion  in  South  Palmyra  lies  on  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  4.  The  portion  lying  in  North  Palmyra  township  is  on  the  southwest 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  395 

quarter  of  section  33.  It  was  laid  out  in  1855  by  D.  X.  Solomon,  J.  F.  Nifong 
and  H.  Berry.  The  old  town  of  Xevvburg  was  situated  on  section  4  and  was  laid 
out  in  1855  by  James  Cave. 

The  first  house  in  the  town  was  built  in  1835  by  William  Owens. 

The  first  hotel  was  conducted  by  W.  B.  Gardiner.  Scott  &  Bosworth  estab- 
lished the  first  store  in  the  town.  The  first  postoffice  was  opened  in  1841  with 
Oakes  Shaw  as  postmaster.  The  first  blacksmith  shop  was  opened  by  James  L. 
Warfield. 

The  first  church  was  erected  by  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  denomination 
in  the  year  1857.  The  first  preacher  who  delivered  a  sermon  here  was  Rev.  L. 
S.  Williams,  a  Presbyterian,  in  1838,  at  the  home  of  Oakes  Shaw. 

The  first  school  was  taught  in  the  fall  of  1836  by  Miss  Eliza  Hersey. 

Dr.  Thornton  claimed  the  distinction  of  being  the  first  physician  in  the  town- 
ship, coming  here  in  1840.  He  was  followed  by  Dr.  H.  J.  Vanwinkle. 

About  1842  the  name  of  the  town  was  changed  from  Newburg  to  Cumming- 
ton,  and  the  latter  was  continued  for  thirteen  years,  when  new  buildings  were 
erected  a  little  west  of  the  old  town,  where  the  land  lay  higher.  Business  was 
then  changed  to  the  new  part  of  the  town,  and  the  name  was  once  more  changed 
to  Palmyra.  After  it  was  surveyed  in  1855  the  town  took  on  new  life. 

In  1855  a  hotel  was  built  on  the  north  side  by  R.  F.  Bracken. 

The  first  mill  in  the  town  was  built  in  1856  by  A.  C.  Farmer,  F.  E.  Shaw  and 
J.  F.  Nifong.  A  little  later  Nifong  &  Solomon  built  a  sawmill. 

In  1867  the  Christian  denomination  built  a  house  of  worship,  and  the  first 
pastor  of  the  new  church  was  G.  M.  Goode. 

Palmyra  has  not  grown  to  any  appreciable  extent  in  the  past  twenty  years. 
In  1890  there  were  1,527  inhabitants;  today  the  number  is  but  little  greater, 
being  only  1,536. 

The  Bank  of  Palmyra,  a  private  institution,  was  established  in  1881.  Its 
president  is  L.  P.  Smith ;  cashier  C.  E.  Mahan. 

BIRD  TOWNSHIP. 

Bird  township  is  a  rich  agricultural  district,  bounded  on  the  north  by  South 
Palmyra,  on  the  east  by  Carlinville,  on  the  south  by  Polk  and  on  the  west  by 
Western  Mound  township.  It  is  afforded  excellent  drainage  by  Otter,  Lick, 
Bear  and  Silver  creeks.  It  is  mostly  prairie  but  some  timber  is  to  be  found  along 
the  streams. 

Among  the  first  settlers  here  may  be  mentioned  Samuel  Love,  G.  M.  Mc- 
Ginnis,  who  settled  on  section  18  in  1829,  Green  Lane,  who  settled  on  section  6, 
and  a  Mr.  Boatman  who  came  in  1830  and  settled  also  on  section  6.  About  this 
time  Peter  Brown  also  settled  here.  In  1834  several  settlers  came,  among  them 
being  Isaac  and  Mace  Moore,  Jerry  Odel  and  John  Smith.  Horatio  Adams 
came  in  1832  and  settled  on  section  4.  In  the  spring  of  1834  James  Husky 
settled  on  section  5.  He  improved  a  large  farm  and  eventually  became  very  pros- 
perous. In  the  spring  of  1835  he  built  a  large  brick  house,  which  was  the  first 
of  its  kind  in  this  part  of  Macoupin  county.  The  brick  was  manufactured  on 
his  own  farm.  The  first  settler  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Bird  township  was 


396  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

a  Mr.  Gates  who  came  in  1834.  Lewis  Edwards  and  William  A.  Brown  may 
also  be  mentioned  among  the  first  settlers,  the  former  locating  on  the  north  side 
of  the  township  in  1832  and  the  latter  on  section  3  in  the  same  year.  John 
Wheeler,  who  came  here  from  Kentucky,  settled  on  section  7,  in  1834,  and  in 
the  same  year  William  Wheeler,  who  came  here  from  Indiana,  settled  on  sec- 
tion 8.  In  1834  William  J.  Bates,  a  native  of  Tennessee,  also  came  and  settled 
on  section  22.  In  the  same  year  George  W.  Arnett  came  from  Tennessee  and 
settled  on  section  9.  Thomas  Leach,  a  native  of  England,  settled  on  section  29, 
in  1835. 

R.  H.  Barrick  came  here  from  Kentucky  in  1836,  settling  on  section  22. 
Thomas  Joiner,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  settled  in  the  township  in  1842,  improv- 
ing a  fine  farm  on  section  3.  Robert  Whiteley,  who  was  a  native  of  Yorkshire, 
England,  settled  here  in  1844.  John  Kissinger,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  came  to 
Bird  township  in  1846  and  eventually  became  one  of  the  largest  farmers  of  this 
section  of  the  county.  F.  Reineke  came  here  in  1849  and  settled  on  section  31. 
Joseph  Bird,  from  whom  the  township  derives  its  name,  came  here  from  Penn- 
sylvania in  1851  and  became  one  of  the  leading  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of 
this  part  of  the  county.  He  is  now  living  retired  in  Carlinville. 

The  first  church  was  built  on  the  old  Husky  place  in  1836  by  the  Methodist 
denomination.  The  first  minister  to  conduct  services  here  was  Dr.  Vance,  who 
also  preached  in  other  sections  of  the  county  for  many  years.  This  building  was 
also  used  for  school  purposes. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  township  occurred  in  1833,  the  contracting  parties 
being  Robert  McGregory  and  Lucinda  Edwards. 

The  first  practicing  physician  was  a  Dr.  Light  foot.  He  practiced  here  for 
years  but  eventually  removed  to  the  west. 

The  fir^t  blacksmith  and  wagon  shop  was  built  by  C.  E.  Masters  in  1859. 

POLK  TOWNSHIP. 

Polk  township  is  located  in  the  western  half  of  Macoupin  county  and  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Bird,  on  the  east  by  Brushy  Mound,  on  the  south  by 
Hilyard  and  on  the  west  by  Chesterfield  townships.  The  soil  is  very  rich  and 
productive,  being  drained  by  Macoupin  creek  and  its  tributaries,  the  principal 
ones  of  which  are  Silver  creek,  Lick  creek,  Dry  fork,  May's  branch  and  Sugar 
creek.  Along  these  streams  was  originally  found  timber,  consisting  of  oak, 
maple,  hickory,  white  and  red  elm,  black  and  white  walnut,  sycamore  and  cotton- 
wood.  There  is  still  some  timber  to  be  found  in  this  region.  Along  the  water 
courses  the  land  is  broken  and  rolling  but  in  the  valley  and  bottom  fine  grazing 
land  is  to  be  found. 

The  first  settlements  were  made  in  this  township  in  1825,  when  Daniel  Dead- 
rick,  Irvin  Smith,  Shadrach  Reddick  and  Abraham  Smith  came  with  their  fam- 
ilies and  located  near  where  the  Chicago  &  Alton  railroad  crosses  Macoupin 
creek.  Each  erected  a  log  cabin  and  began  to  improve  a  farm. 

In  1826  James  Hall  and  family  located  here  and  in  1830  Peter  Wagoner  and 
William  Rhoads  came  with  their  families,  settling  on  the  north  side  of  the 
prairie,  south  of  the  creek,  on  section  28.  Mr.  Wagoner  built  the  first  house  on 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  397 

the  prairie  and  from  this  settlement  the  place  became  known  as  Wagoner's 
prairie.  Mr.  Rhoads  erected  his  home  near  the  town  of  Steubenville,  that  be- 
ing the  first  and  only  town  ever  laid  out  within  the  borders  of  Polk  township. 

The  first  sermon  preached  in  the  township  was  by  William  Jones,  a  Baptist. 
This  was  in  1826  and  the  service  was  held  at  the  home  of  Daniel  Deaclrick. 
P.  C.  Raffurty  was  the  first  resident  clergyman.  He  was  also  of  the  Baptist 
faith  and  began  preaching  here  in  1852.  The  first  church  was  erected  by  the 
United  Baptists  in  1871,  on  section  35,  at  a  cost  of  $2,000. 

The  first  schoolhouse  was  built  on  Section  6  in  1839,  and  Ebenezer  P.  Up- 
ham  was  the  first  teacher,  while  the  first  female  teacher  was  Miss  Virginia 
Benient  who  taught  here  in  1842. 

Between  the  years  1827  and  1836  the  first  marriages  occurred  in  the  town- 
ship, the  contracting  parties  being  James  Holben  and  Matilda  Hall,  Henry 
Miller  and  Catherine  Wagoner,  William  Grimes  and  Nancy  Wagoner,  and  George 
C.  Keller  and  Elizabeth  Raffurty. 

William  Deadrick  was  the  first  child  born  in  the  township,  his  birth  occur- 
ring in  May,  1825. 

The  early  settlers  had  to  go  long  distances  to  mill,  sometimes  going  to  John 
Irvin's  mill  south  of  Carrollton,  in  Greene  county,  and  at  other  times  to  Tegard's 
mill,  east  of  Carlinville.  There  was  no  mill  in  Polk  township  until  1850,  when 
Stephen  Marshall  erected  a  grist  mill,  which  was  located  on  section  28,  on  Ma- 
coupin  creek  and  was  run  by  water  power. 

The  first  persons  to  enter  land  were  James  Mason,  who  entered  eighty-two 
acres  on  section  6,  November  9,  1831 ;  Robert  Holliday.  who  entered  forty  acres 
on  section  20,  February  28,  1834;  and  on  the  same  date  Peter  Wagoner  entered 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  33. 

The  Raffurty  family  came  to  Polk  township  in  1833;  Daniel  Elliott  came  in 
1831  ;  Elias  M.  Dorman  in  1834;  George  W.  Rhodes  in  1833;  S.  F.  Rhodes  and 
Daniel  Hayward  in  1838;  S.  A.  Pepperdine  in  1830;  Mathew  S.  Gillespie  in 
1834;  D.  R.  Johnston  in  1836. 

After  the  building  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  railroad  through  the  township, 
settlements  were  made  quite  rapidly  and  among  some  of  the  early  settlers,  follow- 
ing the  completion  of  the  road,  were  Edward  G.  Duckies,  E.  B.  Eldred,  A.  H 
Eldred.  Isaiah  Rhoads,  Edmund  Rhoads,  John  Hounsley,  Cant  Candler  and 
John  M.  Yowell. 

Macoupin  Station  is  located  in  the  northern  portion  of  section  23  and  con- 
tains only  a  store  and  a  postoffice. 

SCOTTVILLE   TOWNSHIP. 

Scottville  township  is  located  in  town  12,  range  9.  It  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Morgan  county,  on  the  east  by  North  Palmyra  township,  on  the  south 
by  Barr  township,  and  on  the  west  by  Greene  county.  The  surface  is  undulating 
and  both  timber  and  prairie  land  is  to  be  found  here.  It  is  well  drained  for 
Apple,  Panther,  Turner,  Joe's  and  Big  Nigger  creeks  all  flow  through  the  town- 
ship. 


398  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Jn  1825  Andrew  ilettick  came  with  his  wife  and  six  children  and  located  at 
the  head  of  Xegro  Lick.  He  put  up  a  small  log  cabin,  which  was  the  first  build- 
ing of  any  kind  in  the  township.  His  nearest  neighbor  was  Edward  Prather, 
in  Greene  county,  eleven  miles  distant.  It  was  not  until  three  years  later  that 
other  settlers  came  into  the  township. 

Isaac  E.  Pruitt  entered  the  first  land  in  the  township,  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  21,  in  1828.  The  sesond  entry  of  land  was  made  by  Jacob  S. 
Gibson,  which  was  an  eight-acre  tract  on  section  12,  on  the  8th  of  January, 
1829.  Andrew  Hettick  entered  eighty  acres  on  section  27  in  the  spring  of  the 
same  year. 

Those  who  came  here  during  the  years  1828,  1829  and  1830  were  William 
Thompson,  Lawrence  McManus,  John  Record,  Colonel  Powell  H.  Sharp,  James 
H.  Cherry,  William  Watson,  John  Redfern  and  a  Mr.  Sego. 

The  first  schoolhouse  was  built  of  logs  and  located  on  the  south  side  of 
Negro  Lick.  This  was  in  the  summer  of  1829  and  that  year  a  Mr.  Scruggs  be- 
came the  first  teacher. 

The  first  mill  in  the  locality  was  erected  in  1828  by  Hugh  Conoway.  It  was 
located  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  township  and  was  operated  by  horse  power. 
A  little  later  a  second  mill  was  erected  in  the  same  locality  by  Fountain  Land. 
About  the  same  time  James  H.  Cherry  put  up  a  tread  mill  and  Thomas  Lutrell 
built  a  water  mill  on  Apple  creek.  Prior  to  the  building  of  these  mills  the  settlers 
had  to  go  to  Allen's  mill  on  Apple  creek,  four  miles  north  of  Carrollton,  in 
Greene  county. 

A  Baptist  society  was  formed  in  the  south  part  of  the  township  by  Rev. 
Stephen  Coonrod,  a  Baptist  minister,  who  preached  the  first  sermon  in  the  town- 
ship, holding  services  for  some  time  in  the  homes  of  the  settlers.  Eventually 
ministers*  of  the  Methodist,  Christian  and  Presbyterian  denominations  came  into 
the  township,  holding  services  either  in  private  homes  or  in  a  schoolhouse  until 
churches  could  be  erected.  The  first  church  edifice  was  erected  by  the  Christian 
denomination  in  Scottville. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  township  was  in  1828,  the  contracting  parties  being 
Samuel  Thompson  and  Miss  Artemesia  Hettick,  a  daughter  of  Andrew  Hettick. 
Dr.  W.  H.  Palmer  was  the  first  physician  to  locate  here. 

SCOTTVILLli. 

The  village  of  Scottville  is  located  on  sections  16  and  21.  The  proprietors 
of  the  town  were  Jefferson  Weatherford  and  Tristram  P.  Hoxey.  It  was  laid 
out  by  Benjamin  Stephenson  in  1835. 

The  first  postmaster  in  the  town  was  Sargeant  Gobble,  and  Dr.  John  Candle 
was  proprietor  of  the  first  hotel.  Alfred  Ruyle  opened  the  first  blacksmith  shop 
in  the  town. 

Rev.  Samuel  B.  Culp,  a  Baptist  minister,  was  the  first  regular  pastor  in  the 
town. 

Dr.  Wesley  Goode  came  in  1835,  he  being  the  first  physician  to  locate  here 
for  practice. 

The  first  school  was  taught  by  James  Howard. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  899 

In  1854  the  first  mill  was  erected  by  William  M.  Evans,  and  John  and  Isaac 
Mansfield. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  village  was  Robert  McFarlan. 

Scottville  is  another  of  the  villages  of  the  county  that  has  gone  backward. 
In  1890  it  had  363  people  within  its  limits.  At  the  time  of  the  census  in  1900, 
the  population  had  increased  by  one  and  the  census  of  1910  shows  only  301  for 
that  year. 

BARR    TOWNSHIP. 

Barr  township  is  located  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  county  and'  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  Scottville,  on  the  west  by  Greene  county,  on  the  south  by  Western 
Mound  and  on  the  east  by  South  Palmyra  townships.  Its  soil  is  a  rich  clay 
and  in  the  western  portion  along  Taylor's  creek  is  found  some  timber.  The 
northern  portion  is  mostly  prairie,  except  in  the  extreme  northwest  corner,  where 
it  is  rough  and  -broken.  The  township  is  afforded  good  drainage  by  Solomon's, 
Joe's,  Taylor's  and  Watts'  creeks  and  their  tributaries. 

Joseph  Elliott  was  the  first  white  settler  in  the  township.  He  "squatted"  on 
land  on  section  21,  in  1828  or  1829,  and  thereon  built  a  log  cabin  and  cultivated 
some  land.  He  later  sold  to  William  Handlin. 

John  Markham  settled  here  in  the  year  1830  and  in  1835  was  followed  by 
Benjamin  and  Hugh  Barr,  for  whom  the  township  was  named,  a  Mr.  Kennedy, 
Silas  Drum,  and  a  man  by  the  name  of  Wiggins.  Other  early  settlers  were  James 
B.  Steidley,  Hampton  Bates,  John  Barnett,  John  Parks,  Adam  James,  William 
Taggert,  Thomas  Coddle  and  Michael  Buchanan. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  township  was  that  of  John  Rummons  and  Mrs. 
Fanny  Markham,  the  ceremony  being  performed  by  John  Barnett,  justice  of  the 
peace. 

The  first  birth  in  the  township  was  that  of  ^artha  Ann -Steidley,  daughter 
of  James  B.  and  Rachel  Steidley,  February  9,  1835. 

The  first  death  in  the  township  was  that  of  John  Markham  in  January,  1835. 

The  first  religious  services  in  the  township  were  conducted  by  Joseph  J. 
Gray,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  in  a  schoolhouse  on  section  20.  Rev.  James  Cor- 
rington  organized  the  first  church  society,  which  was  a  Methodist.  They  built 
the  first  church  on  section  20  and  called  it  Asbury  chapel.  Charles  Maxfield 
and  wife,  and  Nathan  Henderson  and  wife  were  among  the  first  members.  Soon 
afterward  Samuel  Rees  and  wife,  J.  B.  Steidley  and  wife,  John  and  David  Hen- 
derson, with  their  wives,  and  William  Taggert  and  wife  also  became  members 
of  this  organization. 

The  first  school  in  the  township  was  taught  in  a  private  residence  by  Miss 
Elizabeth  Ann  Steidley. 

The  first  schoolhouse  was  built  of  logs  on  section  20,  in  1836,  and  was  taught 
by  J.  B.  Steidley. 

A  steam  flour  mill  was  erected  by  Shane  &  Henderson  in   1863. 

The  first  mill  in  the  township  was  a  horse  power  sawmill,  operated  by  J.  B. 
Handlin. 

Barr's  Store  is  the  only  village  in  the  township,  and  is  located  on  section  9. 
It  was  laid  out  in  1865  by  John  B.  Steidley,  receiving  its  name  from  the  Rarr 


400  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

family.    Benjamin  R.  Barr  conducted  the  first  store  here  and  was  also  the  first 
postmaster  of  the  village. 

WESTIiKX     MOl/XD    TOWNSHIP. 

Western  Mound  is  one  of  the  western  tier  of  townships  and  lies  in  town  10 
north,  range  9  west.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Barr  township,  on  the  west 
by  Greene  county,  on  the  south  by  Chesterfield  township,  and  on  the  east  by  Bird 
township. 

It  was  originally  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  timber  but  much  of  this 
has  now  been  cleared  off.  It  is  well  drained.  The  northwestern  portion  is 
drained  by  Joe's  creek,  which  flows  in  a  southwesterly  direction  across  the  town- 
ship, while  the  entire  northern,  eastern  and  southern  portions  are  drained  by 
Hodges',  Solomon's,  Lick  and  Bear  creeks.  The  surface  is  generally  hilly, 
especially  along  the  creeks.  The  bottom  lands  are  among  the  most  fertile  and 
productive  in  this  section  of  the  county.  Sandstone  is  found  outcropping  on 
Hodges'  creek  and  has  been  quarried  for  building  purposes.  Coal  has  also  been 
found  in  the  bluffs  of  this  creek  and  has  been  mined  to  supply  the  local  demand 
since  the  first  settlement. 

The  first  settlement  was  made  in  the  township  in  1826  by  Samuel  Judy.  He 
first  located  on  the  southeast  corner  of  section  32. 

In  1827  Bennett  Tilley  and  family,  natives  of  North  Carolina,  William  Smith 
and  family,  Andrew  Hughes,  Henry  Etter  and  a  Air.  Robinson  and  their  families, 
arrived  here  and  made  permanent  locations.  The  following  year  Huriah  Smith 
with  his  father,  Richard  Smith,  and  family,  settled  along  Hodges'  creek  on  section 
31.  In  the  spring  of  1829  Norris  Hayes  and  family  and  J.  Coddle  and  family 
settled  on  section  31.  Among  the  arrivals  in  1829  were  Daniel  Deadrick  and 
family,  who  came  from  Greene  county,  Illinois  and  James  McFarland  and  family 
from  Tennessee.  In  1831  Jeptha  Reeder  came  from  Tennessee,  with  his  family, 
consisting  of  five  daughters  and  one  son,  Paschall  Reeder. 

In  1832  a  number  of  families  settled  here,  among  who  were  John  Morris, 
who  located  on  section  34 ;  William  Chism  and  Jacob  Kelly,  with  their  families, 
who  came  from  Kentucky ;  James  Carr  and  family  and  Joel  Hubbard  and  fam- 
ily, the  latter  from  Tennessee. 

In  1834  Rev.  Charles  Holliday,  a  Methodist  minister,  settled  here.  John 
Dews  came  in  the  same  year  and  entered  eighty  acres  on  section  28  but  did  not 
locate  here  until  the  following  year.  Samuel  Hullett,  a  native  of  England,  came 
here  from  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  in  1835.  Griffith  Edwards  was  also  among 
the  earliest  settlers. 

The  early  settlers  suffered  many  privations  and  hardships,  being  compelled 
to  go  long  distances  to  mill  and  market.  Edwardsville.  a  distance  of  forty  miles, 
was  the  nearest  trading  point.while  many  would  go  to  St.  Louis,  a  distance  of 
fifty  miles. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  township  was  a  son  of  Samuel  Judy  and  wife  in 
the  year  1828.  The  second  birth  was  that  of  Polly  Ann  Smith,  a  daughter  of 
Huriah  Smith  and  wife,  born  February  17,  1830. 


ST.  PAUL'S  PAROCHIAL  SCHOOL 


ST.  PAUL'S  EVAXOKLICAL   PARSONAGE 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  401 

The  first  death  was  that  of  Mrs.  Nellie  Smith,  wife  of  William  Smith.  She 
died  September  i,  1828,  and  her  daughter  Nellie  died  on  the  7th  of  the  same 
month,  one  week  later. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  Huriah  Smith  and  Sally  Tilly,  the  daughter 
of  John  Tilly,  of  North  Carolina. 

The  first  sermon  in  the  township  was  delivered  in  1829  by  Rev.  John  Mc- 
Cray,  a  Baptist  minister.  The  first  church  was  organized  by  him  in  1831  at  the 
home  of  Daniel  Deadrick.  During  the  summer  months  services  were  held  in 
the  groves,  while  in  the  winter  they  were  held  in  Mr.  Deadrick's  home,  the  min- 
ister walking  twenty  miles  from  Waverly  to  conduct  the  services.  Bethel  church 
was  the  first  to  be  built  and  was  erected  by  the  United  Baptist  denomination  in 
1848.  being  located  on  section  3. 

The  first  school  was  conducted  in  the  home  of  Mr.  Hubbard  and  the  first 
teacher  was  William  Hamilton.  In  1836  James  Bates  taught  in  a  house  built 
on  section  8. 

The  first  mill  was  erected  on  Bear  creek,  on  section  24,  by  Richard  Smith, 
in  the  year  1834  or  1835.  It  was  a  horse  mill  and  was  the  only  one  in  the  town- 
ship for  many  years.  Later  Paschall  Reeder  built  a  tread  or  ox  mill. 

In  1844  Lee  Overstreet  erected  the  first  blacksmith  shop  in  the  township. 

Dr.  Zopher  Jayne  located  on  the  southwest  corner  of  the  township  in  1837 
and  was  the  first  local  practitioner  of  this  section. 

The  first  entries  of  land  were  made  by  Thomas  Judy,  which  was  a  tract  of 
eighty  acres  on  section  32,  May  31,  1827;  Nathan  Collins,  April  22,  1831,  eighty 
acres  on  section  31  ;  Henry  Wilkerson,  May  21,  1831,  eighty  acres  on  section  2. 
Other  early  settlers  were  John  Dews,  who  came  in  1834;  John  Kerley,  in  1839; 
David  Holmes,  in  1830;  Adam  Dams,  in  1836;  and  W.  C.  Edwards,  in  1834. 

CHESTERFIELD    TOWNSHIP. 

Chesterfield  township  is  situated  in  the  western  tier  of  townships,  and  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Western  Mound,  on  the  east  by  Polk,  on  the  south  by 
Shipman  and  on  the  west  by  Jersey  county.  Macoupin  creek  enters  the  town- 
ship at  section  25,  and  flowing  in  a  northwesterly  direction  passes  out  at  sec- 
tion 6.  Coop's  creek  empties  into  it  near  the  center  of  the  township  and  Sugar 
creek  empties  into  it  near  the  east  line.  It  is  mostly  prairie  land  but  some  parts 
are  quite  broken. 

The  first  settlement  in  the  township  dates  back  as  early  as  1827  and  at  this 
time  was  settled  mostly  by  English  emigrants.  From  that  time  until  1829,  there 
came  here  from  Kentucky,  Abram  and  Richard  Smith,  Bennett  Tilley  and  George 
Nettles,  all  of  whom  settled  north  of  the  creek  a  short  distance  from  where  the 
village  of  Chesterfield  now  stands.  In  1831,  John,  Henry,  Samuel,  Jesse,  Jacob 
and  Josiah  Rhoacls,  six  brothers,  with  their  families,  settled  in  the  southwestern 
part  of  the  township  at  what  was  known  as  Rhoacls'  Point,  the  present  site  of 
Medora.  About  this  same  time  John  Loper  settled  here  on  section  21.  John 
Gelder  also  came  with  his  family  in  1831  and  settled  on  section  10.  Others  of 
the  early  settlers  were  Daniel  and  Thomas  Morfoot,  of  English  birth.  Josiah 
Collins  and  family.  John  Reddick  and  family  and  Lewis  Elliott. 


402  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

The  year  1833  witnessed  the  arrival  of  Rev.  Gideon  Blackburn,  VV.  H.  Car- 
son, G.  B.  Carson,  John  Carson  and  James  Carson  in  the  township.  The  former 
located  on  Macoupin  creek  on  section  21  and  became  the  founder  of  Blackburn 
University,  now  known  as  Blackburn  College,  at  Carlinville.  The  Carson  bro- 
thers settled  on  section  32,  a  little  south  of  the  settlement  made  by  Rev.  Black- 
burn. 

Jesse  and  Bird  Peebles  came  here  in   1834,  from  Kentucky. 

P.  B.  Solomon  came  to  Macoupin  county  from  Kentucky  in  1827,  and  a  few 
years  later  became  a  resident  of  Chesterfield  township.  He  was  at  one  time 
postmaster  in  the  village  of  Chesterfield. 

Horace  J.  Loomis,  a  native  of  New  York,  became  a  resident  of  the  township 
in  1838. 

William  Duckies  and  wife  came  here  in  1834  from  Yorkshire,  England,  and 
established  a  home  on  section  n.  Other  early  settlers  were:  John  Richardson, 
who  settled  on  section  22,  in  1831 ;  John  Armour,  who  came  here  from  Kentucky 
in  1828;  P.  R.  Gillespie,  who  settled  on  section  24,  in  the  year  1823;  J.  H.  Will- 
iams, who  came  in  1837;  J.  R.  Cundall,  who  located  on  section  9  in  the  year  1834; 
and  Nicholas  Challacombe,  who  came  here  from  Devonshire,  England  in  1840, 
settling  on  section  21.  He  became  a  prominent  farmer  and  stock-raiser. 

The  first  entries  of  land  were  made  as  follows:  Jacob  Rhoads,  eighty  acres 
on  section  8,  in  1830 ;  Jesse  Rhoads,  eighty  acres  on  section  28,  in  the  same  year ; 
and  Daniel  Morfoot,  eighty  acres  on  section  9,  in  1830. 

The  first  sermons  in  this  district  were  delivered  to  the  settlers  north  of  the 
creek  by  Baptist  ministers  by  the  name  of  Samuel  Lair  and  Joseph  Pierce.  This 
was  in  1829.  Jacob  and  John  Rhoads  preached  about  the  same  time  at  Rhoads' 
Point.  Rev.  Gideon  Blackburn,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  preached  in  the  settle- 
ments south  of  the  creek  in  1833  an^  l&34-  In  the  latter  year  he  organized  the 
first  Presbyterian  society  in  this  locality  and  in  the  same  year  a  house  of  wor- 
ship was  built  on  the  creek,  which  was  known  as  Spring  Cove  church.  It  was 
a  very  small  structure  constructed  of  poles  set  in  the  ground  for  the  frame  work 
and  the  sides  and  roof  were  made  of  clapboards.  It  was  seated  with  puncheon 
benches.  A  little  later  the  Baptists  erected  a  similar  structure  at  Rhoads'  Point. 

The  first  school  was  organized  in  1834  at  the  Spring  Cove  church  and  the 
first  schoolhouse  was  located  on  section  32.  It  was  fourteen  feet  square,  built 
of  logs  and  had  a  dirt  floor.  The  first  teacher  was  a  Mr.  Anderson. 

Dr.  Henry  Rhoads  began  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Rhoads'  Point  in  1831 
and  was  followed  in  1833  by  Dr.  Coward. 

In  1831  the  first  mill  was  erected  here  by  Peter  Etter.  It  was  located  on 
section  6  and  was  a  small  one-horse  cog-wheel  mill,  used  for  grinding  and  crack- 
ing the  corn.  In  this  mill  the  owner  was  later  murdered  by  one  Sweeney,  which 
was  the  first  crime  committed  in  the  township. 

A  mill  used  for  cracking  corn  was  built  on  the  Blackburn  farm  on  section 
21  and  John  Rhoads  also  built  a  similar  mill  on  section  31,  at  Rhoads'  Point. 
Another  was  built  in  1833  by  a  Mr.  Marshall. 

In  1838,  Horace  Loomis,  Sr.,  emigrated  to  this  locality  from  New  York  and 
settled  on  a  farm  of  three  hundred  acres,  located  two  miles  east  of  Chesterfield. 
He  established  here  the  first  cheese  factory,  which  proved  a  profitable  enterprise. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  403 

He  kept  as  high  as  one  hundred  and  seventy  cows,  and  shipped  his  product  to  the 
Alton  and  St.  Louis  markets.     He  died  here  in  1851. 

Captain  Gelder  brought  the  first  Durham  cattle  here  in  1844  and  he  it  was 
who  first  introduced  the  imported  English  broad  back  hogs. 


CHESTERFIELD. 

• 

This  village  is  located  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  township  on  section  2, 
and  was  laid  out  by  Jesse  Peebles  and  Aaron  Tilley  in  1836. 

That  year  Joseph  Batchelor  established  the  first  store  in  the  village.  Z.  B. 
Lawson,  John  Vial,  W.  Lee  and  Jesse  Peebles  were  also  some  of  the  first  business 
men  in  this  place. 

Two  years  prior  to  the  platting  of  the  town,  a  log  schoolhouse  was  built  and 
the  first  teacher  was  a  man  by  the  name  of  Dooner. 

In  1864,  Messrs.  Penn,  Rogers  and  Padget  erected  a  steam  flour  mill  in  the 
place  and  previous  to  this  time  W.  B.  Loomis  erected  a  mill  two  miles  east  of 
the  village. 

MEDORA. 

The  town  of  Medora  is  located  in  the  extreme  southwest  corner  of  the  town- 
ship, with  a  small  portion  lying  on  section  6,  of  Shipman  township.  It  is  situated 
on  the  line  of  the  Rock  Island  division  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  rail- 
road, which  runs  throug  the  town  and  out  of  the  county  about  a  mile  northwest 
of  the  place.  The  village  was  laid  out  by  Thomas  B.  Rice  and  surveyed  by  T.  R. 
McKee  in  1859.  Prior  to  this  time  the  place  was  known  as  Rhoads'  Point. 

Medora  lies  south  of  Summerville.  It  is  one  of  the  best  built  and  prettiest 
villages  in  the  county.  The  citizens  of  Medora  have  every  incentive  to  make 
them  proud  of  their  town.  The  business  houses  are  modern  and  tasteful  in  de- 
sign and  the  school  building,  campus  and  other  surroundings  are  preeminently 
artistic  in  design  and  pleasing  to  the  eye.  The  early  history  of  Medora  is  written, 
and  that  by  a  master  hand.  In  1910,  Lyman  L.  Palmer  wrote  a  series  of  articles, 
pertaining  to  Medora  and  vicinity,  which  were  published  in  the  Medora  Messen- 
ger, running  several  months.  No  one,  who  settled  in  this  vicinity,  has  been  over- 
looked by  Mr.  Palmer  and  the  history  of  Medora  is  told  in  a  concise  and  illu- 
minating manner. 

In  the  fall  of  -1897  the  whole  business  section  of  Medora  was  destroyed  by 
fire.  The  citizens  were  not  at  all  discouraged  by  the  disaster  and  at  once  began 
to  rebuild.  The  present  beautiful  city  is  the  result.  The  village,  however,  is  not 
as  large  as  it  was  twenty  years  ago.  In  1890,  the  population  was  1,498.  It  is 
now  1,386. 

SUMMERVILLE. 

This  is  but  a  hamlet  of  a  very  few  houses,  but  at  one  time  was  a  place  of 
some  importance,  especially  to  the  early  settlers.  In  his  reminiscences  of  early 
days,  Lyman  L.  Palmer  writes  voluminously  and  most  entertainingly  of  this 


404  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

village  and  those  who  settled  in  and  near  it,  and  therefore  the  reader  is  referred 
to  Mr.  Palmer's  articles  in  this  volume. 


SHII'MAN    TOWNSHIP. 

.Shipman  township  lies  in  the  western  tier  of  townships  and  is  bounded  on 
the  north  by  Chesterfield,  on  the  west  by  Jersey  county,  on  the  south  by  Brighton 
township,  and  on  the  east  by  Hilyard  township.  The  surface  is  mostly  rich  prairie 
land  and  the  township  is  one  of  the  best  improved  in  the  entire  county.  Piasa 
creek  rises  here,  while  Coop's  creek  flows  through  the  northeastern  part  and  emp- 
ties into  Macoupin  creek,  two  miles  north  of  the  township  line. 

In  1830  the  first  settlement  in  the  township  was  made  by  Rev.  William  Peter, 
who  located  on  section  31.  He  died  soon  after  and  the  family  removed  to  Upper 
Alton,  but  in  the  following  spring  Mrs.  Peter  returned  here  and  erected  a  cabin, 
the  first  in  the  township. 

In  1831  Benjamin  Stedman  came  here  from  Edwardsville,  Illinois,  and  en- 
tered land,  on  which  he  later  located. 

In  1833  James  Honchance  built  the  second  cabin  in  the  township  on  section 
15.  Other  settlers  of  that  year  were  Aaron  Arnold  and  his  sons,  Smith  and 
Edwin :  George  D.  Randle  and  a  Mr.  Houston,  both  of  whom  settled  near  Coop's 
creek;  James  Haycraft.  Samnel  Haycraft,  Joel  Parker  and  a  Mrs.  Cleaver,  who 
constituted  what  was  known  as  the  Haycraft  settlement ;  George  D.  Arnold, 
Nimrod  Dorsey,  William  P.  McKee  and  Dr.  B.  F.  Edwards,  who  came  from 
Madison  county,  Illinois ;  and  Silas  Crane  and  James  Haley,  who  settled  on  sec- 
tions 29  and  30.  respectively. 

In  1835  George  Parker  settled  in  the  township  and  in  the  spring  of  1836 
William  H.  Wilson,  Sr.,  and  R.  Meatyard  settled  near  Piasa  creek  and  they  were 
soon  followed  by  Thomas  B.  Rice. 

In  1836  George  D.  Randle  laid  out  twenty  acres  on  section  24  in  town  lots 
and  called  the  town  Brooklyn.  He  built  a  store  and  brought  the  first  stock  of 
goods  here.  The  same  year  the  Methodist  denomination  built  a  church,  which 
was  afterward  purchased  and  used  as  a  dwelling  by  Peter  Schneider.-  In  this 
church  the  first  school  was  taught  by  Miss  Maria  Arnold. 

The  Brooklyn  election  precinct  was  organized  in  1837  and  George  D.  Randle 
was  elected  the  first  justice  of  the  peace. 

.  In  1844  Horace  Mead.  John  R.  Denny,  William  Prosser  and  John  Richard- 
son settled  in  the  township  and  about  this  time  the  first  log1  schoolhouse  was 
erected.  It  was  also  used  for  religious  services. 

It  was  not  until  1849  that  a  frame  schoolhouse  was  built,  which  was  located 
at  Piasa. 

The  first  religious  services  in  the  township  were  held  at  the  home  of  Mrs. 
Keziah  Peter,  Rev.  Otwell  conducting  the  services.  For  many  years  services 
were  held  in  the  homes  before  a  church  was  erected. 

Dr.  John  Ash,  who  located  at  Piasa  about  1850.  was  the  first  practitioner  in 
the  township. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  405 

Those  who  made  the  first  entries  of  land  were:  William  Peter,  May  26,  1830, 
eighty  acres  on  section  30;  Thomas  Love,  May  .21,  1831,  eighty  acres  on  section 
30;  Robert  Hargraves,  July  18,  1832,  forty  acres  on  section  31. 

Among  some  of  the  early  settlers  may  be  mentioned  Samuel  Trible,  C.  C. 
Rhoads,  John  T.  Jolley.  T.  H.  Stratton,  B.  E.  Parker  and  B.  C.  Rhoads. 

SHIPMAN. 

The  town  of  Shipman  was  named  in  honor  of  John  H.  Shipman,  one  of 
the  original  proprietors,  who  laid  out  the  town.  John  L.  Roberts  was  the  other 
proprietor,  and  the  surveyor  was  George  H.  Holliday,  who  surveyed  it  in  1852. 
It  lies  on  section  24. 

The  first  dwelling  in  the  town  was  erected  by  a  Mr.  Phillips,  while  Leonard 
Loveland,  Jr.,  built  the  first  store  and  stocked  it  with  groceries.  In  1853  Messrs. 
Denny  and  Meatyard  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  here,  having  erected  a 
store  building  for  the  purpose.  In  1855  a  third  store  was  opened  by  I.  &  E. 
Green. 

In  the  fall  of  1854  M.  W.  Seaman  located  here  for  practice  and  in  the  spring 
of  1855  he  was  followed  by  Dr.  J.  W.  Trabue. 

A  schoolhouse  was  built  in  1857,  while  in  1858  the  first  church  was  erected 
by  the  Methodists. 

In  1852  the  Chicago  &  Alton  railroad  was  built  through  the  town.  The  town 
was  incorporated  in  1867. 

The  town  of  Shipman  was  larger  twenty  years  ago,  when  there  were  410 
people.  At  this  time  there  are  but  392,  which  shows  things  have  been  practically 
at  a  standstill. 

The  Shipman  Banking  Company  was  organized  in  1895,  and  has  a  cash  capital 
of  $15,000.  S.  P.  Saner  is  president;  A.  Dehl,  vice  president;  James  B.  Metcalf, 
cashier. 

PIASA. 

The  town  of  Piasa  took  its  name  from  the  creek  which  bears  the  name.  It 
is  located  on  the  line  of  the  Rock  Island  division  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy  railroad,  where  the  corners  of  sections  19,  20,  and  29  and  30  join. 

The  first  person  to  locate  in  the  town  was  George  Parker,  who  built  a  log 
cabin  in  the  spring  of  1836.  The  following  year,  1837,  R.  Meatyard  came  and 
located  in  tlie  town. 

In  November,  1849,  William  Baily  opened  the  first  store  in  the  town.  It 
was  managed  by  a  Mr.  Smith  and  subsequently  kept  by  J.  W.  Warren. 

In  1849  a  schoolhouse  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $250.  The  first  postoffice  was 
established  in  1850,  with  Charles  Talley  as  postmaster.  The  same  year  H.  G. 
Talley  opened  a  blacksmith  ship. 

Charles  Justison  was  the  first  person  buried  in  the  Piasa  cemetery.  This  was 
in  March.  1850. 


REMINISCENT. 

A  TALE  WELL  TOLD  BY  J.  1!.  ANDREWS  OF  EARLY  DAYS  IN  SHIPMAN  TOWNSHIP — 
HE  TELLS  OF  THE  FIRST  BAPTIST  SOCIETY THE  PRIMITIVE  SCHOOLS MANU- 
MITTED SLAVES  AND  THE  UNDERGROUND  RAILROAD LACK  OF  MEDICAL  AT- 
TENDANCE. 

At  the  time  of  the  beginning  of  our  story  there  were  150,000  inhabitants  in 
the  state  of  Illinois.  Probably  nine-tenths  of  these  were  south  of  the  40°  parallel 
of  latitude,  and  perhaps  not  an  incorporated  city  in  the  state.  Chicago  was  a 
hamlet,  included  in  an  area  of  three-eighths  of  a  square  mile.  There  were  two 
or  three  cabins  among  the  hills  at  Alton.  Hostile  Indians  had  all  been  driven  out 
except  in  the  Rock  river  region,  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  state,  where  there 
was  a  desultory  war  against  predatory  Indians  who  came  across  the  Mississippi 
river,  whence  they  had  been  driven  in  1827.  After  the  battle  of  the  Bad  Axe 
in  1832,  which  closed  the  Black  Hawk  war,  the  people  of  the  state  of  Illinois 
were  not  molested  by  hostile  Indians. 

The  history  of  a  country  or  a  locality  begins  with  its  occupation  by  those 
who  are  capable  of  transmitting  the  story  of  their  achievements  in  some  durable 
form.  It  is  hardly  proper  to  say  the  aborigines  of  America  really  possessed  the 
land.  They  did  not  so  much  as  drive  a  stake  in  the  ground  as  a  symbol  of  their 
possession. 

Before  the  busy  hand  of  man  changed  the  face  of  nature  by  reducing  it  to 
his  uses  and  purposes,  the  timber  lines  stood  out  in  bold  relief  like  promontories 
extending  far  out  into  the  ocean,  and  they  served  the  weary  traveler  as  landmarks 
to  guide  him  to  his  goal.  In  those  old  days,  the  hunters,  rangers  and  Indians 
burned  the  prairies  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  but  the  permanent  settlers  soon  put 
a  stop  to  that.  It  appears  that  the  channels  of  the  larger  streams  checked  the 
progress  of  the  fires  and  protected  the  forests  along  their  courses,  so  that  the 
timber  along  the  creeks  was  good,  there  being  white  oak,  black  oak,  red  oak,  post 
oak,  hickory,  elm,  ash  and  some  walnut.  One  of  the  attractions  to  the  first 
•settlers  in  this  region  was  the  abundance  of  limestone  which  cropped  out  in  the 
streams  in  five  places,  first  in  the  Piasa  creek  on  the  Jersey  county  line,  one  and 
a  fourth  miles  west  of  Piasa,  thence  appearing  on  four  branches  nearly  on  a  line 
south  by  west  for  a  distance  of  about  two  and  one-half  miles  in  the  same  direction. 

The  fauna  of  the  Piasa  were  in  part  deer  and  wolves  in  abundance,  a  few 
panthers,  wild  cats,  and  one  Canada  lynx  was  seen  by  a  young  man  named  An- 
drews, who  was  driving  an  ox  wagon  on  a  road  near  a  rail  fence,  when  he  saw 

406 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  407 

crouched  upon  a  top  rail  a  strange  animal.  From  his  description  of  the  animal 
it  was  a  lynx. 

There  was  in  those  days  always  a  thin  line  pf  hunters,  adventurers  and  rangers 
who  preceded  the  earliest  permanent  settlers,  and,  generally  when  a  settlement 
was  started  within  ten  or  twenty  miles  of  them,  they  moved  on.  They  had 
their  mission  in  that  they  removed  some  of  the  obstructions  in  the  way  of  a  per- 
manent occupation  of  the  country. 

According  to  the  custom  of  the  time  the  region  between  the  Piasa  creek 
and  Wood  river  was  called  Brown's  prairie,  its  first  settler  being  a  man  named 
Oliver  Brown,  who  built  his  cabin  in  the  edge  of  the  woods,  where  the  village 
of  Brighton  now  stands,  in  1829.  He  was  a  near  relative  of  the  late  Michael 
Brown,  an  honored  citizen  of  Brighton  for  about  seventy  years.  In  the  spring 
of  1830  Mr.  Brown  broke  a  patch  of  ground  and  planted  corn  and  raised  a 
good  crop. 

On  the  I2th  of  October,  1830,  Joseph  Andrews  arrived  from  Todd  county, 
Kentucky,  and  pitched  his  tent  on  the  brow  of  a  hill  of  one  of  the  larger  branches 
of  the  Piasa  creek.  There  were  four  young  men  and  three  boys  in  the  family. 
Andrews  and  his  eldest  sons  were  pioneers  in  western  Kentucky  and  knew  how 
to  take  care  of  themselves  in  a  new  country.  They  built  a  large  double  log  cabin 
of  hewed  logs.  At  the  foot  of  the  hill  on  which  the  cabin  stood  was  a  deep  hole 
of  pure  water,  from  which  they  had  an  abundant  supply.  By  the  time  they 
had  got  pretty  well  fixed,  the  big  snow  came.  They  had  bought  a  dozen  hogs 
from  a  man  living  north  of  the  Macoupin  creek,  near,  where  Rockbridge  now  is, 
and  several  wagon  loads  of  corn  from  Mr.  Brown  of  Brighton.  The  meat  and 
corn  were  all  the  food  they  had  while  the  big  snow  lasted.  The  corn  was  boiled 
until  soft,  then  beaten  in  a  trough,  dug  out  of  a  section  of  a  log.  So  much  has 
been  said  and  written  about  the  big  snow  that  it  seems  unnecessary  to  give  the 
details  of  the  experience  of  any  particular  settler,  for  they  were  all  very  much 
alike. 

The  Simmons  family  had  built  a  cabin  on  the  north  bank  of  Piasa  creek, 
about  three  miles  west  of  where  the  village  of  Piasa  now  stands,  in  the  spring' 
of  1830.  There  were  four  grown  young  men  in  this  family,  named  Richard, 
Samuel,  Thomas  and  John.  They  each  built  for  themselves  homes,  near  to- 
gether, and  formed  the  nucleus  for  a  settlement.  Shortly  after,  the  Bells,  David- 
sons and  Chapmans  and  one  or  two  other  families  moved  in.  The  locality  occu- 
pied by  the  above  named  settlers  was  called  Simmons  prairie,  and  included  the 
region  between  Piasa  creek  and  Phills  creek  to  the  north  in  Greene,  now  Jersey 
county.  (Jersey  county  was  organized  in  1839.) 

A  family  named  Rhoads  had  built  a  cabin  in  or  near  where  Medora  now  is, 
in  the  year  1829.  Shortly  after,  about  1831  and  1832,  three  or  four  other  families 
settled  there  and  the  place  was  called  Rhoads  Point. 

In  1832  the  first  Baptist  society,  in  all  the  region  of  which  we  write,  was 
organized.  The  seventy-fifth  anniversary  of  this  society  was  recently  celebrated 
in  the  Baptist  church  in  Medora. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  1830,  the  Browns  of  Brighton,  the  Simmons  and  An- 
drews of  Piasa,  and  the  Rhoads  of  Medora  were  all  the  inhabitants  between  a 
small  settlement  near  Godfrey,  or  where  the  village  of  Godfrey  now  is.  and 


408  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Macoupin  creek.     These   families   each    formed  a   nucleus    for    settlements,   the 
boundaries  of  which  were  recognized  for  a  number  of  years. 

The  first  settlers  of  this  region  did  not  live  long  in  their  mud-daubed  and 
stick-chimney  cabin's  before  they  began  building  better  homes.  The  Andrews' 
young  men  set  up  a  primitive  lime  kiln  at  one  of  the  rock  quarries  and'  made 
good  lime  and  mortar,  with  which  they  plastered  the  spaces  between  the  logs  of 
their  cabins,  and  a  brother-in-law  made  a  kiln  of  brick,  with  which  they  built 
their  chimneys  on  the  outside  of  their  houses,  with  large  fire  places  opening  on 
the  inside.  They  made  shingles  from  white  oak  trees,  which  were  split  from  sec- 
tions sawed  from  the  logs,  eighteen  inches  long,  and  shaved  with  a  drawing  knife 
to  a  uniform  thickness  and  width,  with  a  thick  and  thin  end  as  shingles  are  now 
made.  Nails  were  procured  in  St.  Louis.  Oak  boards  were  obtained  from  a 
sawmill  on  Macoupin  creek.  These  boards  were  planed  on  one  side  and  straight- 
ened, with  which  smooth  floors  were  laid.  The  shingled  roofs  lasted  about 
twenty-five  years. 

Joseph  Andrews,  the  first  settler  between  the  Piasa  and  the  Little  Piasa 
creeks,  built  his  permanent  home  near  the  northeast  corner  of  section  6,  in 
township  7  north,  range  9  west,  about  a  half  mile  from  the  timber,  on  what 
was  then  called  a  state  road  which  had  been  located  from  Jacksonville  to  Alton. 
This  road  was  sixty  feet  wide  and  ran  diagonally  across  the  prairie  from  Piasa 
to  Brighton.  This  road  has  been  relocated  on  section  lines  and  their  parallels, 
and  reduced  to  forty  feet  width. 

In  the  years  1831  and  1832  several  families  moved  into  the  neighborhood. 
Among  them  were  Alexander  Miles,  Colonel  Miles'  father,  Robert  Hargrave, 
George  Settlemire,  the  father  of  D.  O.  Settlemire,  who  recently  retired  from  the 
banking  business  in  Litchfield,  and  one  or  two  other  families.  Soon  after  these 
families  came  they  built  a  log  schoolhouse  about  a  half  mile  west  of  the  present 
residence  of  John  E.  Andrews,  which  was  his  father's  home.  This  temple  of 
learning  was  the  first  educational  institution  between  Godfrey  and  Macoupin 
creek.  School  was  held  in  this  building  until  the  year  1842,  when  it  was  aban- 
doned and  a  frame  building  was  erected  for  school,  about  a  mile  south  of  the 
old  log  schoolhouse.  This  new  schoolhouse  was  called  the  Jefferson  school. 

Little  Piasa  creek  is  the  largest  branch  of  the  main  creek  and  runs  parallel 
with  the  larger  creek.  Between  these  two  streams  the  prairie  extended  like  an 
estuary  of  the  sea  with  many  inlets.  The  Jefferson  schoolhouse  stood  in  the 
edge  of  the  woods,  and  forty  acres  of  open  prairie  on  the  other  side,  which 
seemed  to  be  space  enough  for  a  playground.  South  of  this,  across  the  creek, 
and  alongside  of  another  extension  of  the  prairie,  stood  the  Washington  school- 
house,  which  was  built  about  the  same  time.  About  half  the  pupils  of  the  Jef- 
ferson school  lived  in  Jersey  county  and  half  in  Macoupin  county. 

A  spirit  of  intense  patriotism  and  loyalty  to  our  civil  institutions  was  incul- 
cated by  the  teachers  of  these,  schools  and  this  was  generally  done  throughout 
the  country.  When  the  Civil  war  came,  nearly  all  the  boys  who  had  attended 
the  old  Jefferson  school  went  into  the  army,  and  more  than  half  of  them  lost 
their  lives  in  the  service  of  their  country. 

In  the  year  1844  a  slaveholder  in  the  state  of  Missouri  manumitted  his  slaves 
and  sent  alxiut  fifteen  of  them  to  Illinois.  They  came  to  Alton  on  a  boat  but  the 


CATHOLIC  CHURCH.  GIRARD 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 
(JIRAKD 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  409 

citizens  would  not  permit  them  to  land.  They  were  taken  up  the  river  to  the 
mouth  of  Piasa  creek  and  put  ashore  in  the  woods.  They  made  their  way  to 
the  vicinity  of  the  present  village  of  Piasa  and  secured  a  right  to  some  land  in 
some  manner  and  built  several  cabins,  forming  a  community  to  themselves, 
where  they  lived  for  many  years.  They  have  all  died  or  moved  away  except  two 
families,  with  only  one  who  came  out  of  bondage,  he  being  John  Arbuckle,  who 
is  a  patriarch  among  his  people. 

At  the  -time  of  the  first  settlement  orr  the  Piasa  there  seems  to  have  been  no 
improvement  in  the  methods  of  farming  since  the  days  of  the  Pharaohs  of  Egypt. 
It  is  said  that  the  ancient  Greeks  invented  a  machine  to  cut  small 'grain,  which 
was  drawn  by  animals,  but  the  knowledge  of  its  structure  was  lost.  The  farmers 
on  the  prairies  as  late  as  the  fourth  decade  of  the  nineteenth  century  plowed, 
their  ground  with  a  wooden  plow,  with  an  iron  share  made  by  a  common  black- 
smith. This  plow  was  generally  drawn  by  oxen.  The  ground  was  harrowed 
with  a  wooden  harrow — not  a  particle  of  iron  about  it.  The  seed  was  sown  broad- 
cast by  hand,  then  again  harrowed.  The  wheat  and  other  small  grain  were  cut 
with  a  cradle, — a  scythe  with  a  broad  blade  and  a  wooden  frame  attached  to 
gather  the  grain  as  the  implement  was  swung  through  the  grain,  which  was 
thrown  in  a  swath  by  the  cradler.  These  things  may  seem  trivial  but  our  ex- 
istence depended  upon  a  vigorous  use  of  these  rude  implements.  The  prairie 
was  broken  with  a  heavy  plow,  cutting  a  furrow  two  feet  wide  from  eight  to  ten 
inches  deep.  The  beam  of  this  plow  was  fastened  at  the  front  end  to  a  pair  of 
trucks  made  of  sections  sawed  from  the  end  of  a  log.  From  four  to  five  yoke 
of  oxen  were  required  to  pull  this  plow  through  the  strong  sod.  The  wheat 
was  threshed  by  horses  upon  a  cleared  circular  space,  on  which  the  grain  was 
stood  up  in  a  circle,  with  an  open  space  in  the  center.  The  horses  were  ridden 
upon  the  wheat  by  boys  until  the  grain  was  threshed  out.  then  the  straw  was 
raked  off  and  the  grain  in  the  chaff  was  piled  in  the  middle  of  the  tramping 
ground.  In  the  evening  of  each  day  the  wheat  was  fanned  and  put  in  shelter. 

When  the  Andrews  came  to  this  section,  a  deep,  narrow  valley  of  a  large 
branch,  a  mile  and  a  half  southwest  of  Piasa.  was  covered  with  buffalo  bones. 
How  these  bones  got  there  was  a  mystery.  It  does  not  seem  probable  that  a 
large  herd  of  buffaloes  could  have  been  caught  in  such  a  place  by  a  prairie  fire 
or  a  blizzard.  In  a  few  years  these  bones  all  disappeared. 

In  the  years  1835  and  1836  several  families  came,  among  whom  was  Howard 
Clark,  from  Kentucky.  He  came  first  to  Edwardsville  in  1831.  Mr.  Clark  had 
five  sons  who  attended  the  Jefferson  school.  These  boys  all  made  their  homes 
in  Macoupin  county,  in  and  near  the  village  of  Brighton.  They  were  studious 
and  orderly  boys  in  school  and  made  excellent  citizens.  None  of  them  are  now 
living  George  H.  Clark,  who  is  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Piasa.  is  a  son  of 
Edward  15.,  the  eldest  son  of  Howard  Clark. 

Several  English  families  came  about  the  same  time — the  Tribles,  the  Wil- 
sons, the  Meatyards  and  a  little  later,  the  Beebys  and  the  James.  They  were  in- 
dustrious and  thrifty  people  and  an  important  acquisition  to  the  settlement. 

George  Parker  and  one  of  the  Trible  families  were  the  first  settlers  in  what 
is  now  the  village  of  Piasa.  The  place  was  first  known  as  Mt.  Pleasant,  a  name 


410  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

given  to  a  society  of  Methodists  organized  in  an  early  day,  and  is  still  the  name 
of  the  Methodist  church  in  Piasa. 

About  the  year -1851  Samuel  Stratton,  now  of  Los  Angeles,  California,  then 
a  boy  about  seventeen  years  old,  built  a  twelve  by  fourteen  feet  store,  on  the 
corner. of  the  cross  roads  now  belonging  to  Mrs.  Mary  Bateman,  of  St.  Louis, 
in  which  the  boy  began  business.  Mr.  Stratton  is  now  a  wealthy  man.  Piasa, 
not  having  the  advantages  of  a  suitable  location  for  business,  except  to  a  very 
limited  extent,  is  yet  a  hamlet  with  a  population  of  116  and  thirty-nine  dwelling 
houses. 

A  man  named  John  Hart  came  from  Kentucky  in  the  year  1836,  or  near  that 
time,  and  made  a  home  two  miles  northwest  of  Brighton,  between  the  two  Piasa 
creeks.  His  home  was  a  station  on  the  underground  railroad,  where  many  run- 
away negroes  found  a  hiding  place  and  transportation  to  the  next  station  at 
Carlinville.  Mr.  Hart  was  a  very  peculiar  man.  He  professed  to  be  a  disciple 
of  Voltaire  and  Tom  Paine.  His  life  and  property  were  in  constant  peril.  Sev- 
eral attempts  were  made  to  assassinate  him,  but  failed.  He  was  a  most  innocent 
appearing  man  but  his  neighbors  knew  he  was  a  dangerous  man  to  assault.  He 
never  talked  to  his  neighbors  about  being  connected  with  the  business  of  helping 
slaves  to  freedom.  He  had  for  his  associates  Messrs.  Griggs,  Burbank  and  one 
or  two  others.  But  one  fugitive  was  arrested  during  the  many  years  Mr.  Hart 
was  engaged  in  the  business  of  assisting  runaway  slaves.  This  one  was  taken 
before  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  Brighton  for  trial.  During  the  progress  of  the 
investigation,  Hart  and  his  associates  by  a  ruse  got  the  accused  away  from  the 
constable  and  safely  started  on  the  way  to  Canada.  Mr.  Hart  lived  ten  or  twelve 
years  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  war. 

The  pioneers  of  the  Piasa  did  the  best  they  could  to  provide  facilities  for 
giving  their  children  the  rudiments  of  an  education.  While  the  manner  of  con- 
ducting the  schools  and  imparting  instruction  was  antiquated,  there  was  oppor- 
tunity for  the  children,  who  could  be  induced  to  study,  to  develop  well  informed 
minds  and  a  sturdy  intelligence.  Emerson  said  he  needed  some  one  to  make 
him  do  what  he  could. 

After  the  settlers  were  supposed  to  have  had  time  to  accumulate  a  little  money, 
along  came  the  ubiquitous  Yankee  clock  peddler,  whose  disquisitions  upon  the 
horological  qualities  of  his  clocks  completely  fascinated  the  old  pioneer,  and  with 
the  air  of  one  bestowing  a  great  favor,  the  peddler  asked  forty  dollars  for  a  six 
dollar  clock.  Afterwards  came  the  pump  peddler  and  the  lightning  rod  man, 
and  with  them  all,  the  poor  farmer  was  scarcely  permitted  to  retain  enough  of 
his  hard  earnings  to  supply  his  family  with  corn  bread  and  succotash. 

Many  people  commiserate  the  old  settler  for  the  privations  he  had  to  endure. 
His  manner  of  living  had  its  compensations.  He  was  free  from  the  many  an- 
noyances of  social  relations  obtaining  in  densely  populated  communities.  There 
was  little  real  destitution,  and  a  beggar  was  seldom  seen.  When  one  did  come 
along,  he  was  taken  in  and  treated  as  a  prince  of  the  royal  blood.  Their  diver- 
sions were  of  a  character  that  appealed  to  their  ideas  of  recreation  as  strongly 
as  can  be  realized  in  the  most  esthetic  form  of  amusement.  Questions  of  gov- 
ernmental polity  were  discussed  around  many  cabin  firesides  in  the  long  winter 
evenings  in  a  manner  that  would  have  been  creditable  in  a  coterie  of  statesmen. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  411 

The  greatest  privation  they  were  called  upon  to  endure  was  the  lack  of  suf- 
ficient medical  attendance.  Malaria  was  prevalent  in  the  fall  of  the  year. 
Many  people  had  a  spell  of  the  ague  or  bilidus  fever  every  fall.  This  fever  was 
often  fatal.  The  doctors  prepared  their  medicines  in  the  nastiest  manner  they 
could,  apparently  believing  that  the  chief  virtue  of  the  remedy  was  in  its  nause- 
ous quality.  There  was  one  doctor  located  in  Upper  Alton.  There  was  no 
town  there  in  1830. 

J.  E.  Andrews,  whose  home  is  two  miles  north  of  Brighton,  has  one  of  the  best 
private  collection  of  fossils,  curios  and  relics  of  a  former  race  who  occupied 
the  region  of  the  Piasa  ages  ago.  Many  of  these  were  dug  out  of 'small  mounds 
found  in  a  number  of  places.  All  we  know  of  these  ancient  people  is  what  is 
indicated  by  the  contents  of  these  mounds,  and  stone  implements  found  scattered 
about  in  many  places. 

The  legend  of  the  Piasa  bird  appears  to  be  a  very  fair  illustration  of  the 
growth  and  development  of  a  tale  through  many  repetitions  of  its  telling.  This 
story  has,  no  doubt,  lost  every  semblance  of  the  incident  upon  which  the  legend 
got  a  start  on  its  growth  to  its  ludicrous  maturity. 

When  the  first  settlers  came  to  the  Piasa  they  found  a  rough  outline  drawing 
of  the  bird  on  the  bluff,  where  the  Alton  quarries  now  are.  This  drawing 
was  made  with  red  keel,  a  soft  stone,  by  Indians.  The  figure  was  scarred  and 
dotted  with  bullets  and  arrows  supposed  to  have  been  fired  against  it  by  In- 
dians passing  in  their  canoes. 

BRIGHTON   TOWNSHIP. 

Brighton  township  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Shipman,  on  the  east  by 
Bunker  Hill,  on  the  south  by  Madison  county  and  on  the  west  by  Jersey  county. 
The  land  is  drained  by  the  tributaries  of  Wood  river,  while  it  is  traversed  by  two 
railroads — the  Chicago  &  Alton  and  the  Rock  Island  division  of  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad. 

The  first  settlers  in  this  township  were  Oliver  Brown  and  his  nephew,  Will- 
iam Cowan.  They  built  a  cabin  sixteen  feet  square  in  February,  1826.  Their 
nearest  neighbor  was  six  miles  distant. 

In  1828  William  Brewer  came  here  from  Virginia.  Aaron  Husong  also  ar- 
rived here  the  same  year.  In  1830  Michael  Brown,  a  brother  of  Oliver,  and 
Thomas  Cowan,  a  brother  of  William  Cowan,  settled  here  and  built  a  cabin.  In 
1831  James  B.  Pinkard  came,  while  the  following  year,  1832,  witnessed  the  ar- 
rival of  Herman  Griggs  and  others. 

The  first  land  entries  were  made  as  follows :  James  Brown,  eighty  acres 
on  section  19,  in  1830;  Alfred  Kennier,  eighty  acres  on  section  19,  in  1830;  and 
Joseph  Anderson,  on  section  6,  November  12,  1830. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  township  was  that  of  William  Brewer  and  a  Miss 
Delaplain. 

The  first  Sunday  school  was  organized  about  1832  and  was  held  in  a  log 
schoolhouse  located  about  a  mile  from  the  present  town  of  Brighton.  The  two 
denominations  represented  here  at  that  time  were  the  Baptist  and  Methodist. 
Some  of  the  early  settlers  would  ride  to  Alton,  a  distance  of  eleven  miles,  in 


412  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

wagons  drawn  by  ox  teams,  to  attend  religious  services.  Until  about  1835 
preaching  was  held  here  in  private  homes.  About  that  time  the  Baptists  built  a 
house  of  worship  and  the  first  minister  was  Rev.  Amos  Dodge. 

The  first  school  in  the  township  was  conducted  in  a  smoke  house  belonging 
to  Oliver  Brown  and  was  taught  by  Charlotte  Sherman.  The  next  summer  the 
.school  was  taught  by  a  Mrs.  Stratton  and  was  held  in  the  same  log  house  in 
which  the  Sunday  school  had  previously  been  organized. 

The  first  schoolhouse  was  built  in  1834.  It  was  built  on  government  land 
and  was  made  of  logs,  the  structure  being  16x18  feet  in  size.  L.  P.  Stratton  was 
the  first  teacher  in  the  new  building.  The  school  was  conducted  on  the  subscrip- 
tion order  at  two  dollars  per  scholar  per  quarter. 

BRIGHTON. 

The  town  of  Brighton  is  located  mostly  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
19.  Herman  Griggs  was  the  founder  of  the  town,  which  was  laid  out  in  1836 
by  Luke  Knowlton.  A  short  time  previously  a  company  had  purchased  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  of  land  of  Mr.  Brown  on  the  same  section.  They  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  survey  and  lay  off  a  town,  which  was  named  Bristol.  The 
two  plats  were  only  twenty  or  thirty  rods  apart.  Nathan  Scarritt  was  manager 
of  the  latter  company.  Quite  a  competing  spirit  arose  between  the  parties  in 
town  proprietorship.  In  1837  there  was  a  financial  panic,  which  severely  visited 
the  two  towns  of  Bristol  and  Brighton.  Mr.  Scarritt  had  erected  what  became 
known  as  the  Hill  House,  on  Main  street,  occupying  it  with  a  stock  of  merchan- 
dise. The  company  becoming  discouraged  sold  the  entire  tract  of  two  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  to  Daniel  Nelson  for  $r,ooo,  and  the  latter  sold  one  half  of  it  to 
J.  W.  Gilson.  Foj  a  time  improvements  were  very  slow  and  for  several  months 
the  only  building  that  was  erected  was  the  Methodist  church  in  1837. 

Dr.  McKee,  the  first  physician,  came  here  in  1836.  In  1838  Dr.  L.  S.  Pen- 
nington  arrived  and  also  practiced  here. 

The  first  postoffice  was  established  at  Brighton  in  1838,  with  Daniel  Blodgett 
as  the  first  postmaster.  His  commission  for  the  first  year  was  six  dollars.  Prior 
to  this  time  the  residents  of  this  locality  had  received  their  mail  from  the  Alton 
office. 

On  July  4,  1852,  the  Chicago  &  Alton  ran  its  first  train  through  Brighton,  and 
from  that  time  on  the  town  took  on  new  life.  Herman  Griggs  was  appointed 
the  first  agent  at  this  station.  He  erected  a  brick  store  building  near  the  rail- 
road and  admitted  to  partnership  in  business  William  Loveland  and  Lucius  Gris- 
wold.  In  1850  he  built  a  Warehouse  of  brick,  which  adjoined  his  store  building, 
and  in  1853  he  converted  it  into  a  steam  custom  mill. 

In  the  fall  of  1853  R.  H.  Peter  and  John  Moore  opened  a  dry  goods  and 
grocery  store  on  Main  street,  and  in  1857  Mr.  Peter  and  Rev.  Horatio  Nelson 
built  a  store  building  on  Main  street. 

In   1857  T-  Burton  erected  a  store  building  just  west  of  the  mill. 

In  1857  the  first  drug  store  in  the  town  was  opened  by  W.  C.  Merrill  and 
T.  S.  Bean. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  413 

On  the  I4th  of  September,  1836,  the  first  marriage  occurred  here,  the  contract- 
ing parties  being  Herman  Griggs  and  Mary  Starkweather. 

Since  1832  there  has  been  a  schoolhouse  in  the  town  but  the  first  was  con- 
ducted on  the  subscription  plan.  In  September,  1854,  the  settlers  formed  a  com- 
pany for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  school  building,  the  stock  being  fixed  at  ten 
dollars  per  share.  Later  the  stockholders  sold  their  interest  to  the  district. 

In  1890  all  that  part  of  Brighton  lying  in  Brighton  township  and  the  county 
contained  697  inhabitants.  By  1900  the  number  had  dwindled  down  to  606  and 
the  census  of  1910  shows  the  decline  had  continued  and  that  the  population  now 
is  but  554.  At  any  rate  the  town  is  a  good  trading  center  for  a  splendid  agricul- 
tural community.  It  has  a  good  school,  mentioned  in  the  article  devoted  to 
schools,  and  its  churches  are  well  supported. 

BANKS.  , 

Brighton  has  two  strong  financial  institutions,  Blodgett  Brothers  &  Com- 
pany, conducting  a  private  bank,  established  the  institution  in  1868.  It  has  a 
declared  capital  of  $20,100.  D.  Newton  Blodgett  is  president  and  Edwin 
'  Amass,  cashier. 

The  First  National  Bank  was  established  in  1890.  Its  capital  stock  is  $25,000, 
deposits,  $85,000.  President,  G.  W.  H'lliard;  vice  president,  G.  A.  Brown; 
cashier,  F.  F.  Chamberlain. 

MILKS   STATION. 

Miles  Station  is  located  in  Brighton  township,  a  portion  of  the  hamlet  lying 
on  section  9,  while  a  smaller  part  is  on  section  8.  The  place  is  located  in  the 
midst  of  a  rich  agricultural  district  and  is  on  the  line  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
railroad.  The  proprietor  of  Miles  Station  was  Colonel  J.  R.  Miles,  for  whom 
it  was  named,  and  it  was  platted  and  surveyed  by  S.  F.  Spaulding  in  the  year 
1869. 

MT.   OLIVE  TOWNSHIP. 

In  1884  Staunton  township  was  cut  in  two,  from  east  to  west,  and  the  north 
half  was  designated  as  Mt.  Olive  township.  Hence,  the  boundaries  of  the  newly- 
made  township  are  as  follows :  Staunton  on  the  south,  Montgomery  county  on 
the  east,  Cahokia  township  on  the  north  and  Dorchester  township  on  the  west. 

The  history  of  this  township  is  practically  that  of  the  parent  township, 
Staunton,  as  the  territory  comprising  both  of  them  had  long  been  settled  before 
Mt.  Olive  was  made  a  unit  in  the  completed  organization  of  the  county.  Hence, 
the  reader  is  referred  to  the  article  on  Staunton  township  for  any  information 
sought  in  regard  to  the  early  settlement  of  this  section  of  the  community. 

TOWN    OF    MT.   OLIVE. 

The  founding  of  the  town  of  Mt.  Olive  may  be  said  to  have  had  its  initia- 
tion when  John  C.  Niemann  opened  a  small  store  in  that  locality  in  1868.  Then 
came  transportation  facilities  in  the  Litchfield  &  Madison  railroad,  now  operated 


414  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

by  the  Wabash  system.  The  little  frame  general  store  of  John  C.  Niemann 
grew  to  a  fair-sized  department  store  and  other  places  of  business  clustered  on 
all  sides  of  it,  until'  today,  Mt.  Olive  is  one  of  the  important  trading  points  of 
Macoupin  county.  About  1905,  the  Hillsboro  branch  of  the  Illinois  Traction 
System-  an  interurban  electric  railway,  was  built  through  the  town,  adding  greatly 
to  the  needs  of  the  citizens  and  their  convenience  in  reaching  the  county  seat; 
this  road  has  also,  no  doubt,  attracted  home-seekers  to  the  place. 


MINES. 

A  large  proportion  of  Mt.  Olive's  citizens  is  made  up  of  miners  and  their 
families.  There  are  two  large  mines,  which  afford  employment  to  many  men 
and  add  not  a  little  to  the  prosperity  of  the  town. 


WATER  WORKS  AND  ELECTRIC  LIGHTS. 

Not  to  be  outdone  by  her  neighbors  Mt.  Olive,  in  1893,  built  a  system  of 
electric  lighting,  for  public  and  private  purposes,  the  plant  costing  $25,000.  This 
municipal  lighting  plant  has  a  substantial  brick  building  and  modern  machinery. 
The  city  has  a  string  of  fifty-eight  arc  lamps  and  with  the  patronage  obtained 
from  private  consumers  the  system  is  now  reaching  a  stage  that  gives  every 
promise  of  being  self-sustaining. 

The  city  also  owns  its  waterworks,  the  reservoir  of  which  was  built  about 
1895.  The  works,  proper,  was  finished  in  1905,  at  a  cost  of  $60,000.  A  sub- 
stantial brick  power  house  and  two  strong  pumps,  which  are  capable  of  forcing 
2,000,000  gallons  «f  water  every  twenty-four  hours  through  about  twelve  miles 
of  mains,  are  features  of  the  improvements. 

OTHER  PUBLIC  AFFAIRS. 

The  city  hall  of  Mt.  Olive  was  built  all  of  thirty  years  ago  and  is  now  prov- 
ing its  inadequacy  to  the  needs  of  the  growing  municipality.  Plans  are  now  being 
urged  for  a  new  one,  which  will  probably  be  consummated  in  1912. 

In  1890  there  were  only  1,986  inhabitants  in  Mt.  Olive.  The  census  of  1910 
gives  it  3,501.  The  town  is  growing  with  a  steady  and  substantial  growth  and 
this  gives  her  taxpayers  every  encouragement  to  spend  their  means  quite  liberally 
for  improvements.  While  'its  streets  are  not  paved,  they  soon  will  be.  However, 
what  is  lacking  in  this  regard  is,  in  a  way,  compensated  for  in  ten  miles  of  splen- 
didly built  cement  sidewalks. 

BANKS. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Mt.  Olive  was  established  in  1904,  by  C.  Clavin, 
O.  F.  Allen,  A.  E.  Loesher,  John  F.  Prange,  F.  W.  Hartke,  Henry  Kruse,  and 
others.  The  first  officials  were:  President,  O.  F.  Allen;  vice  presidents,  John  F. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  415 

Prange  and  A.  E.  Loesher;  cashier,  C.  Gavin.   'The  capital  stock  is  $25,000;  sur- 
plus and  undivided  profits,  $6,000;  deposits,  $282,453. 

C.    J.    KEISER   &    COMPANY,    BANKERS. 

This  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  strongest  private  banking  concerns  in  Macoupin 
county.  It  was  founded  by  C.  J.  Keiser  in  1882  and  since  that  time  has  been 
doing  business  in  the  Keiser  block,  a  substantial  brick  building,  erected  by  Mr. 
Keiser  in  1882.  Associated  with  the  head  of  the  firm  are  two  sons,  E.  A.  W. 
Keiser  and  A.  H.  Keiser. 

OPERA   HOUSE. 

Mt.  Olive  has  an  opera  house  building  that  would  be  a  credit  to  any  place  of 
greater  importance.  It  was  built  in  1907  by  E.  A.  Uchtman,  is  a  two-story  brick 
and  cost  $20,000.  With  a  spacious  gallery,  this  place  of  amusement  has  a  seating 
capacity  of  700. 

Among  the  societies  now  established  here  may  be  noted  the  Odd  Fellows, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  Woodmen,  Court  of  Honor,  Knights  and  Ladies  of  Security. 

EXECUTIVES   OF  THE   TOWN. 

George  Marburger,  1883-4;  Ford  Behrens,  1884-5-6;  Frank  Friede,  1886-7- 
8-9;  John  Hessner,  1889-90-1;  C.  J.  Keiser,  1891-2;  Frank  Friede,  1892-3; 
J.  B.  Burkhardt,  1893-4-5-6-7;  H.  Fuchs,  1897-8-9;  A.  J.  Keiser,  1899-1900-1-2; 
Theodore  H.  Koch,  1902-3-4-5-6-7;  Bruno  Froehlich,  1907-8-9;  Louis  Simmering, 
eleven  months  of  1909;  Edward  H.  Meyer,  1909-10-11. 

CARLINVILLE  TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  is  bounded  on  the  south  by  South  Otter,  on  the  west  by  Shaw's 
Point,  on  the  north  by  Brushy  Mound  and  on  the  east  by  Bird  township,  and 
comprises  the  congressional  town  of  10  north,  range  7  west.  The  southwest  cor- 
ner lies  on  the  exact  center  of  the  county.  It  is  well  drained  by  Macoupin  creek, 
which  runs  through  the  southeast  corner  of  the  township.  Other  streams  which 
flow  through  the  township  are  the  Hurricane,  which  flows  through  the  township 
in  a  general  direction  from  north  to  south  and  the  small  tributary  of  the  Macou- 
pin which  drains  the  northeastern  part  of  the  township  and  flows  into  the  Macou- 
pin on  the  eastern  verge  of  the  township.  There  is  some  timber  to  be  found 
and  the  soil  is  very  fertile.  The  Chicago  &  Alton  passes  through  the  township 
from  northeast  to  southwest. 

It  is  probable  that  the  first  settlers  in  the  township  were  the  Lairs,  Samuel 
and  Charles,  who  came  in  the  years  1821  or  1822,  and  settled  within  the  limits 
of  the  township.  Joseph  Borough  settled  on  the  east  side  of  the  township  at 
an  early  day. 

Ezekiel  Good  was  the  first  settler  in  Carlinville.  He  came  with  his  wife  in 
an  ox  wagon.  He  built  a  small  cabin  soon  after  his  arrival  here,  while  John  Gray 
put  up  the  second  house  in  the  place. 


416  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

The  original  proprietors  of  the  town  were  Ezekiel  Good  and  Seth  Hodges, 
who  donated  thirty  acres  of  land,  in  order  to  secure  the  location  of  the  county 
seat. 

The  first  store  was  owned  by  Major  Winchester  and  William  E.  Starr,  of 
Edwa'rdsville.  William  Barrett  conducted  the  store,  which  was  stocked  with  dry 
goods,  groceries  and  whisky. 

The  first  minister  was  Stith  M.  Otwell,  who  preached  his  first  sermon  in  the 
log  tavern  in  1831,  his  audience  consisting  of  four  women  and  a  similar  number 
of  children. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  David  McDaniel  and  Miss  Rebecca  Wallace, 
the  marriage  being  celebrated  in  April,  1832. 

There  is  some  doubt  as  to  who  was  the  first  teacher.  Some  think  that  Abner 
B.  Beauchamp,  of  Kentucky,  was  the  first,  while  others  think  that  a  Mr.  Cooley 
was  the  first  and  that  the  second  was  a  man  by  the  name  of  Williams.  Mrs. 
Cooley  and  Almira  Peck  were  also  early  teachers. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  township  was  Thomas,  son  of  Ezekiel  and  Alice 
Good,  in  October,  1830.  The  first  death  was  that  of  the  first  wife  of  William 
Brown,  in  1829. 

The  First  Baptist  preacher  was  Rev.  Elihu  Palmer,  a  brother  of  the  late 
Governor  Palmer. 

The  first  Sunday  school  was  organized  by  Jarrett  Dugger. 

The  first  mill  was  known  as  the  Old  Red  Mill,  which  was  later  replaced  by 
the  Weer  brothers  mill,  both  now  out  of  existence. 

Other  early  settlers  in  the  township  were :  Bennett  Noland  and  family ;  the 
Tennis  family,  consisting  of  mother  and  her  children,  Alice,  William,  John,  Sam- 
uel and  Andrew  Tennis,  who  came  in  1824;  Thomas  Loveless  and  family;  Larkin 
Richardson  and«family,  who  came  in  1825.  He  died  of  cholera  in  1851.  How- 
ard Finley  and  family  settled  on  a  piece  of  land  about  two  miles  east  of  the  tcrwn 
in  the  year  1828.  Abraham  S.  Walker,  a  Tennesseean  and  a  blacksmith  by  trade, 
came  in  1830.  Robert  and  Thomas  Moore  came  with  their  families  in  1832, 
settling  on  section  24.  In  the  fall  of  1829  John  S.  Greathouse,  an  attorney,  came 
to  Carlinville  from  Edwardsville  and  bought  the  improvements  of  Joseph  Bor- 
ough, who  was  one  of  the  first  to  build  a  cabin  here.  In  1829  also  came  P.  H. 
Winchester  and  family.  M.  M.  Anderson  was  also  among  the  first  settlers,  and 
in  1834  Colonel  James  Anderson  settled  here.  In  1833  Dr.  John  Logan  settled 
here  and  Joseph  Howell  and  James  A.  McClure  settled  here  in  1835. 

Ezekiel  Good  entered  the  first  land  in  the  township — a  tract  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  on  section  28,  on  the  nth  of  March,  1828.  John  Harris  entered 
eighty  acres  on  section  35,  March  26,  1829.  while  Seth  Hodges  also  entered 
eighty  acres  on  section  28,  on  the  23d  of  April,  1829. 

There  is  still  living  on  the  old  farm  Thomas  Guthrie  Moore,  who  was  born 
on  the  place  in  1838.  He  has  always  lived  there  and  with  him  are  two  maiden 
sisters,  Nancy  and  Martha. 

The  farm  alluded  to  consists  of  one  .hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  was 
entered  by  Thomas  G.  Moore,  grandfather  of  the  present  owner,  in  1831,  having 
bought  the  claim  of  a  squatter,  who  had  built  a  log  cabin.  The  grandfather  was 
a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war  and  died  in  1843. 


M.    E.    CHURCH 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  417 

The  farm  selected  by  the  Moores  is  located  on  the  stream  known  as  Moore's 
branch  and  the  Moore  cemetery,  where  many  of  the  pioneers  of  Carlinville 
township  lie  buried,  is  located  near  where 'the  branch  empties  into  Macoupin 
creek.  The  spot  was  selected  by  Thomas'  mother  and  she  was  the  second  one  to 
be  buried  there,  the  first  burial  being  that  of  the  little  child  of  one  McGuire,  in 
1832.  "Grandma"  Moore's  interment  took  place  in  1834.  Robert  G.  Moore, 
father  of  the  present  Guthrie  Moore,  ^ntered  land  in  Carlinville  township  in 
1832.  He  died  of  cholera  in  1851,  as  did  Samuel  Lewis  and  several  others,  all  of 
whom  were  buried  in  the  Moore  graveyard.  Burials  were  made  in  this  grave- 
yard by  any  one  who  chose,  without  let  or  hindrance.  In  1887,  desiring  that  the 
grounds  should  be  properly  cared  for,  Thomas  (Guthrie)  Moore  conveyed  by 
deed  to  the  county  the  tract  of  land  forming  the  burial  spot  and  a  board  of  trus- 
tees, appointed  by  the  county,  has  supervision  and  full  charge  of  it. 

Darius  Phelps,  a  cousin  of  C.  A.  Walker's  mother,  was  an  early  settler  here 
and  died  in  1855.  He  lies  buried  in  the  Moore  graveyard.  Darius  was  skilful 
with  the  rifle  and  it  is  said,  brought  home  with  him  one -day  from  one  of  his 
hunting  trips,  rabbits,  prairie  chicken,  doves  and  squirrel.  Mr.  Walker's  mother 
prepared  the  whole  bag  at  once  and  the  meal  discussed  was  one  of  the  most 
novel  pot  pies  mentioned  in  history. 

AN    OLD   LEGAL   DOCUMENT. 

As  has  been  heretofore  mentioned,  Thomas  Moore,  the  elder,  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  war  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  a  pensioner.  Upon  coming 
to  Macoupin  county  from  Kentucky,  it  seems  to  have  been  necessary  to  identify 
himself  before  a  notary  public  as  such  pensioner  in  order  to  receive  his  stipend 
from  the  government.  The  document  here  appended  is  now  in  possession  of 
Professor  Robert  C.  Moore,  his  grandson,  and  is  prized  very  highly : 

"State  of  Illinois,  Macoupin  County — SS. 

"Be  it  known  that  before  me,  John  Wilson,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  in  and  for 
the  county  aforesaid,  personally  appeared  Thomas  Moore  and  made  oath  in  due 
form  of  law  that  he  is  the  identical  person  named  in  an  original  certificate  in  his 
possession,  of  which  I  certify  the  following  is  a  true  copy: 

WAR  DEPARTMENT. 

"Revolutionary  Claim. 

"I  certify  that  in  conformity  with  the  law  of  the  United  States,  of  the  7th 
June,  1832.  Thomas  Moore  of  the  state  of  Illinois,  who  was  a  private  during  the 
Revolutionary  war,  is  entitled  to  receive  Twenty  dollars  per  annum,  during  his 
natural  life,  commencing  on  the  4th  of  March,  1831,  and  payable  semi-annually, 
on  the  4th  of  March  and  4th  of  September  in  every  year. 

"Given  at  the  war  office  of  the  United  States,  this  9th  day  of  January,  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty-four. 

LEWIS  CASS, 

Secretary  of  War. 


418  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

"That  he  now  resides  in  Macoupin  county,  and  has  resided  there  for  the  space 
of  three  years  past,  and  that  previous  thereto  he  resided  in  Kentucky. 

THOMAS  MOORE. 
"Sworn  to  and  subscribed  this  2pth  day  of  September,  1835. 

JOHN  WILSON,  J.  P." 


CARLINVILLE. 

SETH  HODGES  AND  EZEKIEL  GOOD  DONATE  LAND  FOR  THE  COUNTY  SEAT — NAMED  IN 
HONOR  OF  THOMAS  CARLIN  MEMBER  OF  THE  LEGISLATURE — FIRST  LOT  SOLD — 
HAS  NOW  A  POPULATION  OF  THREE  THOUSAND,  SIX  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTY — • 
MAYORS  AND  PUBLIC  UTILITIES. 

On  the  first  day  of  June,  1829,  title  was  vested  in  the  county  of  Macoupin 
to  thirty  acres  of  land,  donated  by  Seth  Hodges  and  Ezekiel  Good,  the  site  of  a 
county  seat,  which  was  given  the  name  of  Carlinville,  in  honor  of  Thomas  Carlin, 
who  secured  the  passage  of  the  act  creating  Macoupin  county  and  later  became 
governor  of  Illinois.  This  indenture  was  the  first  deed  executed  in  the  county. 

The  act  creating  Macoupin  county  also  made  provision  for  securing  a  site  for 
a  county  seat  and  designated  the  procedure  to  be  followed  by  the  commissioners 
who  were  named  in  Section  2  of  the  act,  which  reads  as  follows: 

"For  the  purpose  of  fixing  the  permanent  seat  of  justice  of  said  county,  the 
following  persons  are  appointed  commissioners,  to  wit:  Seth  Hodges,  Joseph 
Borough,  John  Harris,  Shadrach  Reddick  and  Ephraim  Powers,  who,  or  a  ma- 
jority of  them,  being  first  sworn  before  some  justice  of  the  peace  of  this  state, 
faithfully  to  take  into  consideration  the  convenience  of  the  people  with  an  eye 
to  the  future  population  and  eligibility  of  the  place,  shall  meet  at  the  house  of 
Joseph  Borough,  in  said  county  of  Macoupin,  on  the  third  day  of  March  next, 
or  within  six  days  thereafter,  and  proceed  to  examine  and  determine  on  a  place 
for  the  permanent  seat  of  Justice  of  said  county :  Provided  the  commissioners 
aforesaid  shall  locate  the  seat  of  Justice  on  public  land,  they  shall  designate 
the  same,  and  certify  to  the  county  commissioners  of  said  county  as  soon  as  they 
shall  be  qualified  to  office,  the  half  quarter  or  quarter  section  of  land  so  selected 
for  said  county  seat ;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  county  commissioners  as 
soon  thereafter  as  they  may  be  enabled,  to  enter  the  same  in  the  land  office  of  the 
district,  in  which  the  land  may  be  situated,  and  they  shall  immediately  there- 
after lay  off  the  same  or  any  part  thereof,  into  town  lots,  and  sell  the  same  on 
such  terms  and  conditions  as  may  be  most  advantageous  to  the  interests  of  said 
county ;  and  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  shall  be  appropriated  to  the  erection  of  a 
sufficient  court  house  and  jail.  But  if  the  said  commissioners,  appointed  to  locate 
said  seat  of  Justice,  should  locate  the  same  on  the  lands  of  any  person,  or  persons, 
and  such  proprietor,  or  proprietors,  should  refuse  or  neglect  to  give  to  the  county, 
for  the  purpose  of  erecting  public  buildings  for  the  use  of  said  county,  a  quantity 
of  land  not  less  than  twenty  acres,  situated  and  lying  in  a  square  form,  to  be  se- 

419 


420  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

lected  by  said  commissioners,  then,  and  in  that  case,  the  said  commissioners  shall 
proceed  to  select  some  other  situation,  as  convenient  as  may  be  to  the  place  first 
selected ;  Provided,  the  like  quantity,  and  for  the  purpose  above  mentioned.  And 
the  said  commissioners,  after  having  made  such  location,  shall  designate  the  same, 
and  certify  as  aforesaid,  to  the  next  county  commissioners'  court,  to  be  held  in 
and  for  said  county ;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  county  commissioners  to 
demand  and  receive  a  title  in  fee  simple,  for  the  use  of  said  county,  for  the 
donation  of  land  as  above  stated,  and  to  lay  out  the  same  into  town  lots,  and 
sell  the  same,  and  appropriate  the  proceeds  thereof  as  before  mentioned ;  which 
place,  when  so  fixed  upon,  shall  be  the  permanent  seat  of  Justice  of  said  county; 
all  of  which  proceedings  shall  be  entered  of  record  on  the  books  of  the  county 
court." 

THE   SELECTION   OF  SITE   FOR  THE   COUNTY    SEAT. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  commissioners'  court,  held  on  the  2d  of  June,  1829, 

"The  Court  received  the  report  of  the  commissioners,  appointed  by  law  for 
fixing  the  seat  of  Justice  for  this  county,  which  said  report  read  as  follows,  to 
wit: 

"The  commissioners  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois, in  the  year  1829,  to  locate  the  seat  of  Justice  for  the  County  of  Macoupin, 
having  met  at  the  home  of  Joseph  Borough  in  said  county,  and  having  fixed  upon 
the  following  site  for  the  seat  of  Justice  of  said  county,  etc.,  being  and  lying  on 
the  S.  W.  qr.  of  Sec.  28,  Township  10  N.  Range  7  West.  Donation  30  acres,  to 
be  situated  in  an  oblong  square,  80  poles  in  front  on  the  north  side,  to  run  60 
poles  south.  Stake  drove  on  the  north  side  of  pubilc  square,  equi-distant  from 
E.  and  W.  corners  on  N.  side,  facing  Main  St.,  to  run  due  East  and  West. 

"Given  under  our  hands  and  seals,  this  first  day  of  June,  A.  D.,  1829. 
I  "SETH  HODGES. 

"JOSEPH  BOROUGH. 
"JOHN  HARRIS." 

The  court  received  a  title  in  fee  simple  for  the  above  described  lot,  or  dona- 
tion of  ground,  which  said  bond  was  ordered  to  be  filed  in  the  clerk's  office  of  this 
court.  The  site  for  the  county  seat  was  named  Carlinville,  in  honor  of  Thomas 
Carlin,  who  afterwards  became  governor  of  Illinois,  and  who,  as  has  been  seen, 
secured  the  passage  of  the  creating  act. 

COPY  OF  PROPRIETORS'  BOND  TO  COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS. 

"Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  we,  Seth  Hodges  and  Ezekiel  Good, 
are  held  and  firmly  bound  unto  William  Wilcox,  Theodorus  Davis  and  Seth 
Hodges,  county  commissioners  for  Macoupin  county,  and  their  successors  in 
office,  in  the  penal  sum.  of  one  thousand  dollars,  for  the  true  payment  whereof 
we  bind  ourselves,  our  heirs,  executors  and  administrators  jointly,  severally  and 
firmly  by  these  presents.  Sealed  with  our  seals,  and  dated  this  ist  day  of  June, 
1829. 

"The  condition  of  the  above  obligation  is  such  that  whereas  the  above  named 
Seth  Hodges  and  Ezekiel  Good  have  agreed  to  make  a  good  and  lawful  deed 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  421 

to  the  above  named  county  commissioners  and  their  successors  in  office  to  thirty 
acres  of  land  situate,  and  lying  and  being  in  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
of  No.  28,  10  N.  in  ,W.  R.  7,  to  wit,  situated  in  an  oblong  square,  80  poles  in 
front,  on  the  north  side  to  run  60  poles  south.  Stake  drove  on  the  north  side 
of  the  public  square  equi-distant  from  E.  and  W.  on  N.  side  facing  Main  street, 
Main  street  to  run  due  east  and  west.  Now  if  the  said  Good  and  Hodges  shall 
make  a  good  and  sufficient  deed  to  the  above  described  lot  or  parcel  of  ground 
as  soon  as  the  patent  for  said  ground  shall  come  to  their  hands,  then  this  obliga- 
tion to  be  void,  else  to  remain  in  full  force. 

"SETH   HODGES   (SEAL) 
"EZEKIEL  GOOD  (SEAL") 

LAYING  OFF  THE  TOWN  OF  CARLINVILLE,  JUNE  TERM  OF  COURT,  1829 JUNE  I. 

"It  is  ordered  by  the  court  that  the  surveyor  of  this  county  proceed  to  lay 
off  the  town  of  Carlinville  into  town  lots,  under  the  direction  of  the  Commis- 
sioners of  this  county,  and  that  he  return  a  plot  of  the  same  to  the  office  of  this 
court,  previous  to  the  2/th  day  of  August  next,  and  it  is  further  ordered  by 
the  court  that  twenty  lots  of  the  aforesaid  town  of  Carlinville  be  offered  for  sale 
on  the  27th  day  of  August  next  on  the  premises,  on  a  credit  of  six,  twelve  and 
eighteen  months,  the  purchaser  giving  bond  with  approved  security  for  the  pur- 
chase money,  and  that  the  clerk  of  this  court  furnish  an  advertisement  convey- 
ing the  intent  and  meaning  of  this  order,  to  be  published  in  the  Illinois  Intelli- 
gencer, and  also  advertise  the  same  in  such  public  places  in  this  county  as  may 
be  deemed  expedient. 

"State  of  Illinois,  Macoupin  county,  s.  s. : 

"On  this  day  personally  appeared  before  me  Ezekiel  Good  and  Seth  Hodges, 
who  are  personally  known  to  me  to  be  the  identical  persons  who  executed  thirty 
acres,  as  a  donation,  to  Seth  Hodges,  Theodoras  Davis  and  William  Wilcox, 
county  commissioners  of  said  county,  and  also  said  county  commissioners,  all  of 
whom  acknowledged  the  within  to  be  their  act  and  plat  to  all  intents  and  pur- 
poses :  Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  this  27th  day  of  August,  A.  D.,  1829. 

"LEWIS  SOLOMON,  J.  P. 

"Registered  August  the  27th,  1829. 

"T.  P.  HOXEY,  Recorder." 

» 

CARLINVILLE  PLATTED. 

In  August,  1829,  Joseph  Borough  laid  out  the  county  seat,  which  had  been 
given  the  name  of  Carlinville,  giving  the  streets  ample  width  and  laying  them  at 
right  angles  to  each  other.  At  first  Mr.  Borough  laid  out  fifty  lots  and  received 
from  the  court  of  commissioners  for  his  labors  the  munificent  stipend  of  seven- 
teen dollars  and  fifty  cents. 

THE   FIRST    LOT   SOLD. 

Rowland  Shepherd,  although  he  may  not  have  been  the  first  to  purchase  a  lot 
in  the  embryo  city,  was  certainly  at  the  head  of  the  list  in  the  matter  of  obtaining 


422  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

the  first  deed.  This  historic  legal  paper  was  executed  and  delivered  to  Rowland 
Shepherd  on  the  6th  day  of  November,  1829,  and  signed  by  Theodorus  Davis, 
with  the  attestation  of  John  Harris  and  Joseph  Borough.  The  lot  sold  was  desig- 
nated on  the  map  as  lot  number  seventy-one  and  the  consideration  was  eight 
dollars. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1829,  when  the  first  election  was  held,  there  were 
seventy-eight  votes  cast  for  the  whole  county.  That  would  indicate  there  were 
then  living  in  the  community  about  400  souls.  The  settlements  had  been  made  in 
various  sections  of  the  county  so  that,  when  the  first  sale  of  lots  took  place  in 
Carlinville  there  were  hardly  more  than  a  "baker's  dozen"  of  families  within  its 
confines. 

CITY  OF  CARLINVILLE. 

Carlinville  is  now  (1911),  a  beautiful  little  city  6f  3,616  population,  with  most 
of  its  business  houses  on  four  streets  which  face  the  square.  The  place  is  devoid 
of  manufactories,  although  at  one  time  it  had  nourishing  machine  shops,  a  brew- 
ery, established  in  1859  by  Steel  &  Lebherz,  which  continued  in  operation  many 
years.  This  and  the  machine  shops  have  long  been  abandoned.  There  were 
mills  in  Carlinville,  the  output  of  which  was  many  hundred  barrels  of  flour  per 
day.  These  have  gone  out  of  existence,  most  of  them  having  been  destroyed 
by  fire,  until  today  not  one  remains. 

The  first  mill  was  erected  by  Henry  Fishback  in  1845  and  was  lost  by  fire  in 
1864.  It  was  a  three-story  frame  and  was  replaced  by  another  the  same  year, 
of  brick  and  stone,  with  slate  roof.  This  was  an  imposing  structure  to  the  eye 
and  cost  something  near  $50,000.  It  was  owned  and  operated  by  the  Weer  broth- 
ers, who  had  invested  about  $100,000  in  the  concern.  This  building  was  also 
destroyed  by  fire.  The  Grove  mills  were  also  of  brick  and  stone,  three  stories 
in  height  and  had  a  capacity  of  150  barrels  of  flour  a  day.  The  Diamond  Mill 
and  other  milts  all  had  their  day  and  went  the  way  of  their  predecessors — up  in 
smoke. 

Carlinville  is  a  splendid  trading  town  and  has  one  of  the.  most  fertile  and 
prosperous  regions  in  central  Illinois  from  which  to  secure  customers.  With 
good  roads  and  railroad  facilities  unsurpassed  in  the  Chicago  &  Alton  and  the 
Illinois  Traction  System,  the  people  easily  reach  her  marts,  not  only  from  all 
points  of  the  county  but  from  adjoining  territory.  Her  merchants  are  conse- 
quently busy  and  prosperous,  as  is  evidenced  by  the  modern  store  buildings  and 
many  handsome  homes,  cRurches  and  other  structures. 

The  city  of  Carlinville  is  situated  on  the  Chicago  &  Alton  railroad,  223  miles 
from  Chicago  and  57  miles  from  St.  Louis.  It  is  40  miles  from  Springfield,  the 
capital  of  the  state. 

MAYORS  OF  THE  CITY. 

In  April,  1865,  Carlinville  received  its  charter  as  an  incorporated  city  and  since 
that  time  to  the  present  the  following  men  of  worth  and  standing  have  acted 
as  its  chief  executive  officer:  John  M.  Woodson,  1865;  William  B.  Dugger, 
1866-67;  Alexander  P.  Bettersworth,  1868;  William  Farrell,  1869;  Henry  TT. 
Weer,  1870-71 ;  Charles  A.  Walker,  1872 ;  Henry  H.  Weer,  1873 ;  James  K.  Fur- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  423 

her,  1874;  George  R.  Hughes,  1875;  Peter  Heinz,  1876;  William  F.  Burgdorff, 
1877;  Jacob  L.  Plain,  1878;  George  J.  Castle,  1879;  Jacob  L.  Plain,  1880;  Joseph 
C.  Waggoner,  1881;  Peter  Heinz,  1882-83;  Z.  Harris,  1884;  J.  W.  Hankins, 
1885;  J.  T..  Plain,  1886;  C.  J.  C.  Fischer,  1887-88;  W.  H.  H.  Horine,  1889-90; 
W.  L.  Mounts,  1891-92;  A.  H.  Bell,  1893-94;  W.  D.  Graham,  1895-96;  Charles 
Gillman,  1897-98;  Robert  A.  Hankins,  1899-1900;  A.  F. -Weiss,  1901-02;  W.  H. 
Behrens,  1903-07;  Dr.  J.  S.  Collins.  1908-09;  Jesse  Peebles,  1910-11;  James  A. 
McClure,  the  present  incumbent. 

THE  CITY  HALL. 

In  1885,  when  the  Methodist  church  society  abandoned  its  old  church  build- 
ing, on  South  Broad  street,  the  city  purchased  it  and  after  remodeling  the  build- 
ing, converting  a  part  into  an  opera  house,  installed  the  municipal  offices  in  the 
rear  of  the  building,  which  there  remained  until  1897,  when  a  new,  commodious 
and  sightly  structure  was  erected  by  the  city  on  West  Main  street  for  public 
purposes,  at  a  cost  of  $8,000.  Here  is  the  council  chamber,  spacious  and  com- 
fortable. This 'is  situate  at  the  rear  of  the  second  floor,  the  front  being  devoted 
to  the  firemen  and  is  known  as  Firemen's  Hall.  The  ground  floor  is  used  by  the 
city  marshal,  an  office  room  having  been  arranged  for  that  official ;  and  a  large 
space  for  the  fire  apparatus,  which  consists  of  hose  and  hose  carts.  This  build- 
ing is  of  red  pressed  brick,  trimmed  in  stone,  is  two-story  and  has  a  bell  tower. 
The  city  bastile  is  a  small  building — one-story  brick — on  Plum  street,  just  off 
West  Main. 

POLICE  AND  FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 

Carlinville  has  not  grown  to  the  proportions  that  demand  a  metropolitan  police 
force  or  fire  department.  The  city  has,  however,  one  marshal,  or  chief  of  police, 
who  looks  to  the  deportment  of  the  unruly  in  the  day  time,  and  two  officers,  whose 
duties  keep  them  patroling  the  city  in  the  night  season.  The  fire  department  is 
on  the  same  small  scale,  but  probably  adequate  for  the  purpose.  The  members 
are  all  volunteers  and  "run  to  fires"  gratis.  The  paraphernalia  is  rather  ancient 
for  the  town  and  after  a  costly  fire  will,  no  doubt,  be  replaced  by  more  modern 
machinery  for  fighting  fires  and  saving  valuable  property. 

WATER   WORKS. 

The  Carlinville  Water  Company  received  its  franchise  in  December,  1888, 
and  built  a  water  works  plant — power  house,  mains  laid — in  1889.  The  power 
house,  a  one  and  one-half-story  brick  structure,  was  built  one  and  one-half  miles 
south  of  the  city  on  Macoupin  creek.  Two  Dean  pumps,  with  a  capacity  of 
1,000,000  gallons  of  water  every  twenty- four  hours,  were  installed  and  the  water 
from  Macoupin  creek  became  an  article  of  commerce.  From  the  analysis  of  the 
creek  water  here  given  one  can  determine  the  quality  of  nature's  beverage,  as 
furnished  by  the  company. 

In  1904,  the  Water  Company,  a  foreign  corporation,  went  into  the  hands  of  a 
receiver,  and  in  June,  1907,  the  principal  part  of  the  stock  being  owned  by  him, 


424  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

A.  H.  Soden,  of  Boston,  purchased  the  plant  at  master's  sale,  paying  $53,000. 
During  the  receivership  the  old  cement  mains  were  moved  and  replaced  by  iron 
ones.  A  filter  plant  was  built  and  to  meet  expenses  of  these  improvements  re- 
ceiver's certificates  were  issued,  all  of  which  were  finally  redeemed.  The  com- 
pany 'had  been  forced  into  liquidation  by  the  city  refusing  to  pay  its  water  rent, 
claiming  inferior  water  and  an  insufficient  pressure.  Or  in  other  words,  the 
works  were  not  furnishing  pure  water,  nor  were  they  capable  of  serving  the  city 
in  a  proper  manner  in  case  of  fire  or  other  emergency.  Since  the  new  regime 
and  under  the  efficient  management  of  A.  M.  Boring,  the  works  increased  in 
its  capacity  and  efficiency  and  is  meeting  the  necessities  of  its  patrons.  A  steel 
stand  pipe,  120  feet  in  height,  on  Market  square,  is  one  innovation  and  five  miles 
of  mains  now  tap  pretty  much  of  the  residence  and  business  sections  of  the  city. 
The  stand-pipe  pressure  is  from  40  to  45  pounds;  direct  pressure,  150  pounds. 
The  works  is  now  on  a  paying  basis. 

In  1907  the  company  was  reorganized  and  the  name  changed  from  the  Car- 
linville  Water  Company  to  the  Carlinville  Water  Supply  Company.  The  officers 
are:  A.  H.  Soden,  of  Boston,  president;  A.  M.  Boring,  secretary  and  treasurer; 
Captain  George  J.  Castle,  superintendent.  Directors,  A.  H.  Soden,  A.  M.  Bor- 
ing, E.  A.  Carter. 

The  Jackson  filter  system  has  been  adopted.  The  main  filter  bed  is  30x30  feet 
in  dimensions  and  30  feet  deep,  having  six  compartments.  In  the  latter  is  sand 
from  Minnesota,  specially  prepared,  and  other  requisites,  through  which  the  water 
percolates  and  when  it  reaches  the  consumer  it  is  very  palatable  and  healthful, 
as  the  following  analysis  by  the  director  of  State  Water  Survey  would  indicate : 

"DEPARTMENT  OF  CHEMISTRY,  UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

"URBANA,  ILLINOIS,  April  12,  1907. 

"Report  of  the  Sanitary  Chemical  Analysis  of  Water. 
"Source  of  Water — Macoupin  creek. 
"Location — One  Mile  South  of  Carlinville. 
"Amounts  are  stated  in  parts  per  million. 
"Turbidity— 50. 
"Color— 4 
"Odor— o. 

"Total  residue  on  evaporation — 365. 
"Chlorine  in  chlorides — 10. 
"Oxygen  consumed — 7.35. 
"Nitrogen  as  free  ammonia — .064. 
"Nitrogen  as  albuminoid  ammonia — .272.  - 
"Nitrogen  as  nitrites — .000. 
"Nitrogen  as  nitrates — .320. 
"Alkalinity — 199.5. 
"Sulphates— 

"Iron.  "EDWARD  BARTOW,  PH.  D. 

"Director  State  Water  Survey." 


ST.   PAUL   KVAXUKLIt'AL  CliritCII. 
STAl'XTOX 


CATHOLIC   ('liriiCH.   STATNTON 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  42!) 

PAVED   STREETS. 

In  the  matter  of  well-paved  streets  Carlinville  is  keeping  pace  with  the 
modern  city  idea.  Today  there  are  two  and  one-half  miles  of  brick  paving,  which 
cost  the  taxpayer  $85,531.  The  public  square  streets  were  the  first  to  be  laid  with 
brick — in  1892 — at  a  cost  of  $13,851 ;  the  same  year  West  Main  was  paved  at  an 
expenditure  of  $15,823.  One  block  on  JSouth  Broad  was  laid  in  1893,  the  im- 
provement costing  $1,285,  North  Broad,  $10,960,  and  East  Main,  $14,237.  Five 
years  were  permitted  to  go  by  before  any  more  permanent  work  was  done  on  the 
streets.  In  1908  paving  was  extended  on  South  Broad,  at  an  outlay  of  $12,176. 
In  1910  First  South  street  was  paved  and  cost  the  city  $17,200. 

SEWERAGE. 

Public  improvements  were  commenced  in  a  proper  manner,  by  first  inaugurat- 
ing a  sewerage  system.  In  1891  work  was  begun  on  this  sanitary  device,  the 
main  sewer  for  that  section  being  laid  on  First  South  street  to  East  Main.  Then 
followed  other  mains,  chiefly  of  brick,  the  sewers  ranging  in  size  from  two  feet 
to  five  feet,  as  follows :  Public  square  to  East  street,  Oak  to  Chicago  &  Alton 
railroad,  First  South  to  Second  South,  East  Main  to  North,  East  to  North  Broad, 
East  to  Charles,  North  Broad  to  Plum,  Plum  to  Oak,  North  to  Washington, 
East  to  College  avenue,  'East  to  Ellison,  North  to  Moore,  Charles  to  Seminary, 
North  to  Nicholas,  and  a  number  of  extensions ;  Oak  to  Chicago  &  Alton  railroad, 
North  to  Nicholas,  Ellison  to  Center,  in  all  five  and  one-half  miles,  at  a  total  cost 
of  $65,130. 

CITY  FIRST  LIGHTED  BY  GAS. 

In  December,  1869,  Carlinville  took  on  metropolitan  airs  by  lighting  its  streets, 
stores  and  residences  by  artificial  gas.  An  incorporated  company  built  a  plant  at 
the  corner  of  Mulberry  and  Locust  streets.  The  concern  was  capitalized  at  $31,- 
ooo  and  had  for  its  first  officers :  Charles  W.  Weer,  president ;  Samuel  B.  Dug- 
ger,  secretary ;  John  T.  Rogers,  treasurer.  The  board  of  directors  was  made  up 
of  Dr.  John  Logan,  William  Farrell,  Charles  W.  Weer,  Morris  Hezel  and  Henry 
Daley.  Eventually  the  majority  of  the  stock  found  its  way  into  the  possession  of 
C.  H.  C.  Anderson,  who  became  its  president  and  treasurer  and  after  his  death, 
in  the  settlement  of  his  estate,  the  property  was  turned  over  to  a  daughter,  Mrs. 
W.  L.  Mounts.  This  occurred  in  1888.  The  concern  continued  in  operation  from 
this  time  to  1890  as  the  Carlinville  Gas  Light  &  Coke  Company,  when  the  charter 
was  surrendered.  That  year,  W.  L.  Mounts,  as  an  official  of  the  company,  bought 
the  Brush  Electric  Light  plant  and  merged  the  two  lighting  concerns  into  the 
Carlinville  Gas  &  Electric  Light  Works,  as  a  private  institution.  This  condi- 
tion prevailed  until  December  31,  1909,  when  the  Carlinville  Utilities  Company 
was  incorporated  and  these  properties  were  turned  over  to  the  corporation. 

The  officers  of  the  present  company  are :  W.  L.  Mounts,  president ;  W.  H. 
Behrens',  secretary ;  William  McKinley,  of  Carlinville,  treasurer.  These  gentle- 
men also  compose  the  board  of  directors.  When  the  gas  works  came  into  the 
possession  of  the  Mounts,  the  product  was  changed  from  coal  gas  to  water  gas 


426  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

and  later  both  kinds  were  made.  The  company  continued  to  manufacture  gas 
until  February,  1910,  when  the  factory  was  closed  and  by  arrangements  consum- 
mated with  the  Impromptu  Development  Company  gas  has  been  furnished  from 
the  natural  gas  field  of  Macoupin  county  and  retailed  to  consumers.  At  this  time 
the  citizens  of  Carlinville  have  both  gas  and  electric  lights,  furnished  by  the 
Carlinville  Utilities  Company. 

POSTMASTERS   OF  CARLINVILLE. 

The  first  postmaster  of  Carlinville  was  Ezekiel  Good,  who  has  been  men- 
tioned in  this  work  so  often  that  the  reader  will  have  become  well  acquainted 
with  the  characteristics  of  that  pioneer  long  before  reaching  this  article.  At 
the  time  of  his  incumbency  of  the  office  there  were  but  very  primitive  means  of 
carrying  the  mails  from  one  locality  to  the  other.  Postage  stamps  were  then 
unknown  and  the  recipient  of  a  letter  paid  twenty-five  cents  or  more  to  the 
postmaster,  according  to  the  bulk  of  and  distance  the  missive  had  been  carried. 

In  those  days  there  were  no  fast  mail  trains,  no  regular  place  for  the  dis- 
tribution of  mail  matter,  no  city  mail  carriers,  no  rural  deliveries,  no  trans- 
mission of  money  by  the  postoffice  department  and  no  postal  savings  banks. 
Nor  were  these  conveniences  even  dreamed  of  by  Postmaster  Good  and  his 
patrons. 

It  is  said  that  Ezekiel  Good  performed  his  duties  toward  "Uncle  Sam"  and 
the  citizens  of  Carlinville  well  and  faithfully.  Almost  every  week  letters  would 
reach  the  village  and  the  postmaster,  as  a  rule  and  in  order  to  be  accommo- 
dating, would  place  in  his  hat  the  precious  communications  from  loved  ones,  in- 
cluding sweethearts,  back  in  the  erstwhile  far  eastern  homes  of  the  settlers,  and 
as  he  met  a  "lucky  one,"  would  hand  him  a  letter,  written  on  a  sheet  of  paper 
doubled  over  and  sealed  with  wax,  first  collecting  the  postage.  Those  old 
days  of  primitive  things  are  long  since  passed  away.  The  government  has 
now  in  operation  a  postal  system  second  to  none  in  Christendom.  A  letter  is 
carried  to  any  part  of  the  United  States  for  two  cents  and  the  time  is  not 
distant  when  the  postage  on  the  ordinary  letter  will  be  reduced  to  one  cent.  The 
privileges  accorded  residents  of  towns  and  cities  have  been  in  recent  years  ex- 
tended to  the  man  on  the  farm  and  in  a  very  short  time  the  city  of  Carlinville 
will  have  its  own  government  building,  from  which  will  radiate  each  day,  not 
only  the  urban  carrier  but  also  the  rural  mail  distributor,  whose  route  covers 
on  an  average  a  distance  of  twenty-five  miles. 

The  successors  of  the  premier  postmaster  of  Carlinville  have  not  been  so 
many,  when  one  considers  that  since  Ezekiel  Good's  time  over  eighty  years  have 
gone  by.  However,  no  complete  list  of  the  names  of  the  incumbents  of  this 
office  has  ever  been  published,  hence,  as  a  matter  of  history  it  is  herewith  given : 

Ezekiel  Good,  Feb.  26,  1830;  T.  C.  Kendall,  Aug.  6,  1834;  John  Wilson, 
Nov.  30,  1835;  Dan  Anderson,  Sept.  4,  1837;  J.  C.  Howell,  June  4,  1841 ;  Daniel 
Anderson,  Sept.  14,  1844;  Leroy  G.  Palmer,  April  15,  1846;  C.  J.  Palmer, 
Nov.  4,  1847;  J-  L-  Dugger,  Feb.  3.  1849;  James  Fishback,  Feb.  16,  1852;  John 
Keller,  May  26,  1853;  J.  W.  Hankins.  June  9,  1854;  G.  W.  Wallace,  Mar.  23, 
1855;  F.  M.  Bates.  Jan.  7.  1859;  Wm.  A.  R.  Moore,  July  3,  1860;  H.  M.  Kim- 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  427 

ball,  April  9,  1861 ;  H.  B.  Grubbs,  Sept.  28,  i&66;  Dinah  Crew,  Mar.  28,  1867; 
H.  M.  Kimball,  May  28,  1869;  C.  T.  Prouty,  Dec.  11,  1873;  John  Westermeier, 
Feb.  10,  1886;  G.  J.  Castle,  Feb.  14,  1890;  V.  H.  Siegel,  Feb.  16,  1894;  G.  J. 
Castle,  May  4,  1898;  G.  F.  Jordan,  Feb.  28,  1907. 

CARLINVILLE  LIBRARY. 

That  the  city  has  a  library  at  all  is  all  owing  to  the  gratuitous  labors  of  a] 
certain  number  of  women  who  early  gave  their  attention  to  the.  needs  of  an 
institution  of  the  kind  in  the  community.  There  has  never  been  any  assistance 
rendered  these  worthy  women  of  an  official  character,  but  on  the  contrary,  monies 
secured  for  the  purchase  of  books  and  to  meet  running  expenses  have  been 
raised  mainly  by  means  of  entertainments  gotten  up  by  the  ladies  of  Carlinville. 

No  connected  records  have  been  kept  by  the  library  association  during  its 
early  years  of  existence  that  avails  the  historian  in  a  research  for  data  pertinent 
to  its  history,  and  the  following  article  has  been  made  possible  simply  through 
the  valiant  efforts  of  Mrs.  John  I.  Rinaker,  Miss  Sue  Dick  and  Mrs.  Lolah 
Woods.  The  article  below  was  written  by  Miss  Sue  Dick : 

SOME  INTERESTING  FACTS. 

The  historian  digging  among  early  records  for  data  relating  to  people  and 
incidents  connected  with  the  pioneer  days  of  the  city  library  will  unearth  some 
interesting  facts.  First  and  foremost  among  them  is  the  fact  that  the  Car- 
linville library  has  now  a  permanent  place  in  the  history  of  the  community. 

Starting  from  a  small  beginning,  with  only  a  few  books  secured  through 
the  solicitations  of  a  committee,  its  growth  and  continued  success  have  been 
very  gratifying  to  its  friends.  Several  attempts  at  inaugurating  a  library  in 
Carlinville  had  been  made,  which  resulted  in  absolute  failure.  The  earliest  record 
regarding  the  institution  shows  that  in  1834  a  library  was  started  by  the  first 
teachers  of  the  county  seat,  namely,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cooley  and  Miss  Packard, 
which  continued  only  during  the  time  of  their  employment  in  the  pioneer  school. 
General  John  T.  Rinaker  and  Hon.  C.  A.  Walker  remember  a  library  organi- 
zation that  met  over  Oliver  Hall's  store.  Don  Cameron  was  the  librarian. 
No  records  were  kept  and  the  books  were  scattered  throughout  the  village 
and  lost. 

On  December  15,  1868,  a  number  of  the  citizens  of  Carlinville,  H.  M.  Kim- 
ball,  D.  W.  Dresser,  A.  S.  Ruark,  F.  L.  Matthews,  Nicholas  Dubois,  A.  M. 
Barker  and  others,  met  to  agree  upon  plans  for  the  organization  of  a  public 
library.  They  had  on  hand  more  than  $100  in  cash  and  more  than  two-thirds 
of  the  subscribers  to  this  fund  were  present.  They  chose  T.  L.  Loomis 
chairman,  who  appointed  J.  G.  Koester  and  W.  H.  Steward  a  committee  to 
devise  and  report  upon  plans  for  the  formation  of  a  library  association.  The 
result  of  this  committee's  labors  was  the  perfecting  of  the  organization  and 
the  acceptance  of  its  title — the  Carlinville  Library  Association.  W.  R.  Welch, 
D.  W.  Dresser  and  A.  C.  Rafferty  were  elected  trustees.  For  some  time 
after  the  creation  of  the  association  the  few  books  then  collected  were 


428  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

kept  in  a  small  room  where  the  Koester  building  now  stands,  on  East  Main 
street.  Officers  were  elected  on  December  30,  1869.  Miss  Bettie  Robertson 
was  chosen  president.  No  record  of  the  proceedings  of  their  meetings  has  been 
found.  Under  the  first  organization  meager  funds  were  secured  through  mite 
societies,  and  much  of  the  business  of  the  association  was  transacted  in  the 
room  above  mentioned.  Many  of  the  homes  of  the  early  workers,  however, 
were  open  to  these  meetings.  George  Holliday,  A.  S.  Ruark,  C.  A.  Walker,  A. 
M.  Dubois,  J.  L.  Plain,  J.  I.  Rinaker,  W.  R.  Welch,  J.  B.  Listen,  N.  Boice,  J.  G. 
Koester,  C.  H.  C.  Anderson  and  Dr.  J.  P.  Matthews  were  at  the  head  of  these 
homes.  Subsequently  a  permanent  place  of  meeting  was  obtained  in  the  north- 
west room  in  the  court  house  basement.  The  first  meeting  was  held  here  March 
5,  1870,  and  on  the  I7th  of  the  same  month,  the  library  was  thrown  open  to  the 
public  from  2  to  5  P.  M.  This  room  was  donated  to  the  association  by  the  board 
of  supervisors.  In  a  few  years  two  larger  rooms  were  secured  in  the  basement 
of  the  court  house,  both  of  which  are  now  filled,  with  a  large  and  well  selected 
list  of  books. 

PERMANENT  ORGANIZATION. 

The  permanent  organization  of  the  library  association  was  effected  February 
ii,  1871,  with  the  election  of  the  following  officers:  President,  Mrs.  A.  M.  Du- 
bois; vice  president,,  Mrs.  'M.  J.  Anderson;  recording  secretary,  Miss  Lizzie 
Corn ;  corresponding  secretary,  Nicholas  Dubois ;  treasurer,  Miss  Sue  Uhl ;  and 
trustees,  A.  S.  Ruark,  S.  T.  Corn,  and  A.  M.  Barker. 

Mrs.  Dubois'  administration  as  president  gave  excellent  satisfaction  and 
much  credit  is  due  her  for  the  foresight  she  exhibited  in  the  management  of  the 
affairs  of  the  association.  Through  the  efforts  of  the  Carlinville  bar,  the  "Pick- 
wick Trial,"  a  drama,  was  rendered  by  certain  of  its  members,  which  proved  a 
success  in  every  way  and  redounded  to  the  benefit  of  the  library.  Mrs.  J.  I. 
Rinaker,  during  her  term  of  office,  was  also  very  helpful  and  added  not  a  little 
toward  keeping  up  the  interest  in  the  movement.  Under  her  administration  the 
constitution  was  amended,  and  a  code  of  by-laws  adopted,  with  Dr.  A.  P.  Bet- 
tersworth,  Mrs.  J.  I.  Rinaker  and  Mrs.  W.  R.  Welch  forming  the  committee. 
The  cataloguing  of  books  was  also  necessary  and  this  being  under  Mrs.  Rina- 
ker's  supervision,  as  president,  she  appointed  a  committee,  consisting  of  Mes- 
dames  Welch,  Matthews  and  Dubois,  and  the  Misses  Lizzie  Corn  and  Sue  Dick 
for  this  work.  Under  the  committee's  instructions  a  catalogue  was  published, 
which  added  much  to  the  convenience  of  librarians  and  patrons. 


LIFE    MEMBERSHIP. 

The  first  certificate  of  life  membership  in  the  association  was  applied  for  and 
received  by  Mrs.  J.  I.  Rinaker,  the  second  by  Miss  Sue  Dick. 

Mesdames  J.  P.  Matthews  and  H.  M.  Kimball  proved  themselves  able  and 
willing  workers  in  the  interests  of  the  library  and  were  among  the  early  presi- 
dents. Mrs.  M.  J.  Anderson  was  also  painstaking  and  faithful  in  the  discharge 
of  her  duties  in  the  chair. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  429 

Mrs.  C.  A.  Walker  had  the  arduous  task  pf  preparing  the  second  catalogue 
of  the  library's  books,  but  with  her  committee  of  able  workers,  consisting  of 
Mesdames  J.  I.  Rinaker,  Lolah  W.  Woods,  M.  L.  Keplinger  and  the  Misses 
Sallie  Welch  and  Ma.mie  Johnson,  the  work  when  completed  met  with  com- 
mendation. Mrs.  Walker  also  served  as  president  of  the  association  and  made 
a  very  efficient  officer.  Mrs.  A.  H.  Eldred  was  one  of  the  presidents  of  the 
organization  and  proved  an  able  and  painstaking  executive.  The  library  was 
gratefully  indebted  to  her  for  the  stave,  which  she  generously  donated  for 
the  purpose  of  heating  the  library  room.  Mrs.  Thomas  Rinaker  may  also  be 
mentioned  as  one  of  the  presiding  officers,  who  gave  her  time  and  interests  to  the 
affairs  of  the  association.  The  same  may  be  said  of  Miss  Sue  Dick,  who  as 
president  was  a  zealous  worker  and  by  her  donations  of  valuable  books  added 
much  to  the  growing  library. 

FINANCIAL    MANAGEMENT. 

Mrs.  F.  W.  Burton,  Mrs.  W.  H.  Steward  and  Mrs.  M.  L.  Keplinger,  besides 
their  ability  in  conducting  the  affairs  of  the  library,  as  presidents  won  enviable 
reputations  as  financial  managers  of  entertainments  through  which  they  added 
largely  to  the  funds  of  the  association.  Many  others  who  acted  in  an  official 
capacity  deserve  much  credit  for  their  faithfulness  in  discharging  the  duties  de- 
volving upon  them.  Among  these  may  be  mentioned  J.  T.  Rogers,  M.  L.  Kep- 
linger, George  Hunter,  W.  H.  Steward,  Mesdames  Charles  Otwell,  S.  S.  Hunter, 
Mary  P.  Hankins,  Lucretia  Liston,  Lolah  W.  Woods  and  the  Misses  Maria  Fish- 
back  and  Mamie  Johnson.  Their  work  and  interests  manifested  in  the  library 
can  hardly  be  over-estimated. 

LIBRARIANS. 

The  faithful  librarians  who  ever  held  to  their  post  of  duty  deserve  encomiums, 
for  they  have  ever  been  willing  to  perform  their  duties  and  lend  all  possible 
assistance  to  the  patrons  of  the  library.  Mrs.  W.  R.  Welch  and  Miss  Sue  Dick, 
respectively,  were  the  first  librarians.  Others  who  have  followed  them  have  been 
more  than  trustworthy  in  the  performance  of  their  duties.  These  remarks  may 
also  be  applied  to  the  present  librarian,  Miss  Mattie  Johnson,  and  her  assistants, 
the  Misses  Davis,  David  and  Hassett.  Mrs.  W.  H.  Behrens  is  the  present  presi- 
dent of  the  association. 

Many  donations  of  books  have  been  made,  adding  largely  to  the  growing  list 
of  volumes  on  the  library  shelves.  The  main  workers  in  sustaining  the  library 
were  among  the  older  citizens  and  their  families  who  worked  to  promote  its 
growth.  Many  of  these  have  passed  to  the  great  beyond.  It  is  somewhat  re- 
markable that  of  all  the  officers  elected  in  the  annual  meetings  of  1872,  1873, 
1874  and  the  chief  promoters  of  the  organization,  few  remain  at  this  day  citizens 
of  Carlinville.  Those  now  here  are  Mrs.  M.  J.  Anderson,  Miss  Sue  Dick,  Mrs. 
J.  I.  Rinaker,  J.  G.  Koester  and  M.  L.  Keplinger.  This  -remnant  of  the  old 
guard,  so  to  speak,  remains  to  witness  and  enjoy  the  success  of  its  undertakings. 

The  library  is  now  in  a  prosperous  condition.  It  contains  over  5,000  volumes 
and  has  a  yearly  circulation  of  over  7,000.  All  the  best  and  most  popular  maga- 


430  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

zines  are  found  upon  the  library  shelves.  None  of  the  officers  are  paid.  The 
only  remuneration  they  receive  is  the  free  use  of  books.  Of  late  years  the 
offices  have  all  been  filled  by  women,  with  full  control  and  supervision.  The 
support  of  the  library  is  secured  through  the  membership  fees  of  $2,  yearly, 
and  fines  received  from  those  retaining  books  in  their  possession  over  the  time 
limit. 

The  library  has  no  endowment  fund.  At  first,  through  the  kindness  of  citi- 
zens, donations  were  made  until  the  association  became  self-sustaining  from  mem- 
berships, fines  and  entertainments.  In  1871,  $400  had  been  subscribed  and  later 
other  donations  were  made.  Since  then  it  has  had  a  slow,  but  steady  growth, 
until  now  it  is  identified  with  the  best  interests  of  the  city. 

BANKS  AND  BANKERS. 

The  banking  house  of  Crittenden  H.  C.  Anderson  started  in  1869  under  a 
special  charter  to  the  Henderson  Loan  &  Real  Estate  Company,  which  began 
business  in  the  place  now  maintained  by  the  C.  H.  C.  Anderson  Banking  Com- 
pany. The  head  of  this  financial  concern  was  George  H.  Holliday,  a  former 
county  judge  who  became  very  prominently  involved  in  the  history  of  the  present 
court  house.  The  bank  was  capitalized  at  $5,000.  James  J.  Furber  was  its 
cashier  and  Holliday  was  at  the  head  of  the  concern  until  January,  1870,  when 
C.  H.  C.  Anderson  purchased  the  business  and  reorganized  the  institution.  Mr. 
Anderson,  from  the  fact  that  he  had  invested  a  large  sum  of  money,  was  prac- 
tically in  control  of  the  bank.  However,  he  retained  Mr.  Furber  as  cashier  and 
at  the  time,  Samuel  T.  Mayo,  Julius  G.  Chester  and  Charles  W.  Weer  appeared 
among  others  on  the  board  of  directors.  The  bank  was  conducted  under  the 
corporate  name  of  the  Henderson  Loan  &  Real  Estate  Company  until  about  the 
year  1879,  when  the  charter  was  surrendered.  Mr.  Anderson  retained  his  in- 
terest, which  covered  practically  the  business  and  conducted  the  bank  as  a  private 
concern,  retaining  Mr.  Furber  as  cashier. 

C.  H.  C.  Anderson  conducted  this  bank  alone  until  July,  1889,  when  he  asso- 
ciated with  him  as  partners  in  business  his  son,  John  C.  Anderson,  the  present 
head  of  the  bank,  and  his  daughter,  Effie  M.,  the  wife  of  W.  L.  Mounts.  Six 
months  after  this  arrangement  was  consummated  Mr.  Anderson  died.  At  the 
time  that  he  assumed  control  of  the  institution  in  1870,  the  bank  was  capitalized 
at  only  $5,000  but  previous  to  his  death  the  capital  stock  had  been  increased  to 
$100,000,  and  at  the  time  of  Mr.  Anderson's  death,  the  reports  show  a  surplus 
of  $25,000.  This  was  in  1890.  Mr.  Furber  continued  as  cashier  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  November  8,  1903,  in  his  seventieth  year. 

In  1878  the  banking  house  of  Chestnut  &  Dubois  failed.  This  was  the  first 
banking  institution  established  in  Macoupin  county.  Mr.  Anderson  had  no 
knowledge  of  the  difficulty  of  the  Chestnut  &  Dubois  bank  until  the  morning 
that  a  notice  was  posted  on  the  bank's  doors.  This  announcement  caused  un- 
easiness and  unusual  commotion  among  the  depositiors  of  the  banks,  but  Mr. 
Anderson  continued  business  just  the  same.  During  that  day,  say  about  closing 
time,  some  of  Mr.  Anderson's  heaviest  depositors  became  apprehensive  as  to 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  431 

whether  he  could  pull  through  the  storm,  and  called  upon  him  to  learn  of  the 
situation.  His  only  reply  to  their  importunities  and  questions  was : 

"They  might  close  my  doors  but  they  can't  break  me." 

Mr.  Anderson  invited  his  depositors  back  of  the  counter  and  insisted  on 
them  making  a  thorough  examination  of  his  books,  saying  to  them: 

"Gentlemen,  I  want  you  to  understand  that  not  only  the  assets  of  this  cor- 
poration but  every  dollar  of  my  private  property  is  behind  this  bank." 

The  result  of  the  examination  of  the  books  satisfied  Mr.  Anderson's  callers 
that  the  bank  itself  was  perfectly  solvent  and  the  consequence  was  that  ten  of 
the  most  substantial  business  men  of  the  city  executed  to  Samuel  T.  Mayo  a 
power  of  attorney  authorizing  him  to  sign  their  names  as  guarantors  upon  any 
certificate  of  deposit  issued  by  the  C.  H.  C.  Anderson  Bank  to  such  customers 
who  desired  to  have  their  deposits  secured.  This  arrangement  was  availed  of  by  a 
few  of  the  depositors  but  by  noon  of  the  next  day,  all  danger  of  a  run  was  over. 
At  that  time  Mr.  Anderson's  private  means  amounted  to  about  $100,000  and  it 
might  be  here  stated  parenthetically  that  the  Anderson  bank  has  without  any 
special  difficulty  withstood  three  financial  panics — those  of  1873,  l&7&  and  l%93- 

The  capital  stock  of  this  bank  is  $100,000.  The  president  is  John  C.  Ander- 
son and  John  Westermeier  is  cashier,  while  H.  Dey  is  assistant  cashier. 

Mr.  Westermeier  succeeded  Mr.  Furber  in  1890  and  has  been  the  cashier  of 
the  bank  ever  since  that  time. 

The  Farmers  and  Merchants  Bank  of  Carlinville  was  organized  in  April,  1904 
by  Judge  Lewis  C.  Peebles,  John  R.  Duckies,  H.  A.  Steinmeyer,  Thomas  P.  Ross, 
William  J.  C.  Grotefendt,  Dr.  J.  P.  Denby,  W.  B.  Otwell,  L.  E.  Mason  and 
others.  The  institution  was  capitalized  at  $35,000.  It  began  with  a  prosperous 
business  at  the  start,  which  has  continued  and  multiplied  to  the  present  time. 
It  has  made  no  change  in  its  capital  stock,  and  its  liabilities  amount  to  $150,000. 

CARLINVILLE    NATIONAL    BANK. 

This  institution  was  organized  May  5,  1890  by  A.  L.  Hoblit,  Sylvester  Hoblit 
and  others.  W.  F.  Burgdorff  was  the  first  president ;  Peter  Heinz,  vice  president ; 
A.  L.  Hoblit,  cashier;  Frank  Hoblit,  assistant  cashier.  The  first  directorate  was 
tomposed  of  W.  F.  Burgdorff,  Joseph  Bird,  Peter  Heinz,  Milton  McClure,  F. 
W.  Burton,  John  I.  Rinaker,  Robert  B.  Shirley,  Sylvester  Hoblit  and  Charles 
Gilman. 

The  concern  was  capitalized  at  $50,000  and  began  doing  business  May  5, 
1890  in  the  old  First  National  Bank  building,  which  is  leased  by  the  management 
Since  its  organization  the  net  earnings  of  the  bank  have  been  $194,000,  of  which 
$96,000  have  been  paid  out  in  dividends  and  $98,000  now  represents  the  sur- 
plus and  undivided  profits.  As  shown  by  the  statement  of  June  7,  1911,  the 
capital  and  surplus  of  the  bank  was  $153,000;  total  resources,  $700,000;  deposits, 
$534,000. 

The  present  officers  are :  W.  F.  Burgdorff,  president ;  Joseph  Bird,  vice 
president;  A.  L.  Hoblit,  cashier;  C.  H.  Diesel,  assistant  cashier.  Frank  Hoblit, 


432  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

a  former  assistant  cashier,  is  now  the  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  at 
Lincoln,  Illinois. 

CARLINVILLE  LOAN  &  BUILDING  ASSOCIATION. 

The  above  institution  was  organized  about  the  year  1885  by  Robert  E.  Love, 
Thomas  Rinaker,  A.  G.  David,  L.  P.  Peebles,  W.  F.  Burgdorff,  W.  E.  P.  Ander- 
son, W.  H.  Steward,  W.  O.  Steinmeyer  and  others,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$500,000.  The  institution  is  a  very  prosperous  one  and  is  now  capitalized  at 
$2,000,000. 

Its  officers  are :  W.  F.  Burgdorff,  president ;  C.  Westermeier,  vice  president ; 
A.  L.  Hoblit,  treasurer ;  Thomas  Rinaker,  attorney ;  C.  G.  Heinz,  secretary. 

THE   MACOUPIN   TELEPHONE  &  TELEGRAPH    COMPANY. 

The  Macoupin  Telephone  &  Telegraph  Company,  an  independent  telephone 
company,  owns  and  operates  telephone  exchanges  at  Carlinville,  the  capital  city 
of  Macoupin  county,  and  at  Atwater,  Illinois.  The  company  is  incorporated 
under  the  laws  of  the  state  of  Illinois,  and  was  originally  incorporated,  July  30, 
1900,  with  an  authorized  capital  stock  of  $10,000,  the  incorporators  being  James 
A.  Fletcher,  C.  G.  Heinz,  Frank  Paul,  Theodore  C.  Loehr,  Robert  Whitely,  Jr., 
C.  J.  C.  Fischer  and  J.  E.  McClure. 

This  telephone  company  was  born  of  a  necessity  for  a  toll  line  connection 
with  a  telephone  exchange  in  the  county  seat,  which  was  felt  by  independent 
telephone  companies  operating  exchanges  in  the  cities,  towns  and  villages  in 
the  northern  part  of  Macoupin  county.  Connection  had  been  denied  them  except 
on  ruinous  terms. 

The  Macoupin  Telephone  &  Telegraph  Company  opened  its  Carlinville  ex- 
change, January  i,  1901,  with  one  hundred  telephones  in  service  and  one  toll 
line  connecting  with  the  exchange  of  the  Girard  Telephone  Company  at  Girard; 
through  that  exchange  with  all  other  cities,  towns  and  villages  in  the  northern 
part  of  Macoupin  county  and  a  few  points  in  Montgomery,  Sangamon  and 
Morgan  counties.  Today  this  company  on  its  Carlinville  and  Atwater  exchanges 
has  seven  hundred  and  fifty  subscribers,  has  toll  line  connection  over  its  own 
or  inter-company  owned  metallic  toll  lines  with  every  city,  town  and  village  in 
Macoupin  county,  with  every  independent  telephone  company  and  exchange  in 
the  adjoining  counties;  and  over  the  copper  metallic  toll  lines  of  the  Kinloch 
Long  Distance  Telephone  Company  of  Missouri,  the  Inter-State  Independent 
Telephone  &  Telegraph  Company,  of  Springfield  and  Aurora,  Illinois,  and 
through  the  connecting  lines  of  these  great  companies  the  subscribers  of  the 
Macoupin  Telephone  &  Telegraph  Company  may  have  telephone  toll  line  serv- 
ice, promptly  and  satisfactorily  to  about  five  thousand  cities,  towns  and  villages 
in  Illinois,  Iowa,  Missouri,  Kansas,  Kentucky,  Indiana  and  Ohio,  including  such 
great  cities  and  trade  centers  as  Kansas  City  and  St.  Louis,  Missouri ;  Louis- 
ville, Kentucky;  Terre  Haute  and  Indianapolis,  Indiana;  Springfield,  Decatur, 
Bloomington,  Peoria,  Quincy,  Rock  Island,  Joliet,  Aurora  and  Chicago,  Illinois ; 
Keokuk,  Fort  Madison,  Burlington,  Muscatine,  Davenport  and  Clinton,  Iowa. 


AMERICAN  WOMAN'S  LKAOl'E 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  433 

The  local  as  well  as  the  toll  business  of  the  company  is  steadily  growing,  and 
it  seems  reasonably  probable  that  the  growth  will  continue  until  every  residence 
in  town  and  every  farm  residence  will  have  a  telephone  connecting  with  the 
central  offices  of  this  company.  The  company  but  recently  increased  its  capital 
stock  from  $10,000  to  $50,000  in  order  to  raise  funds  to  increase  switchboard 
capacity  in  the  central  offices,  to  provide  additional  cable  and  more  country 
lines  and  telephones,  the  present  equipment  being  fully  employed.  The  rates 
for  service  vary  according  to  the  kind  of -service  desired. 

The  time  is  here  when  telephone  service  is  as  necessary  and  important  to 
every  one  as  postal  service,  and  it  is  only  a  question  of  time  when  every  one 
to  whom  first  class  local  and  long  distance  service  is  of  importance  will  have 
"a  telephone  connecting  with  the  exchanges  of  The  Macoupin  Telephone  &  Tele- 
graph Company,  and  through  its  exchanges  with  the  toll  lines  and  exchanges 
of  independent  telephone  companies  elsewhere. 

The  present  officers  and  directors  of  the  company  are :  Theodore  C.  Loehr, 
president;  Frank  Paul,  vice  president;  A.  F.  Loehr.  secretary,  treasurer  and 
manager.  Directors,  A.  F.  Weiss,  H.  C.  Wargensted,  Frank  Paul,  C.  Wester- 
meier,  Henry  W.  Paul,  A.  F.  Loehr. 

CARLINVILLE   WOMAN'S    CLUB. 

By  Elizabeth  Pegram  Lumpkin. 

As  the  seat  of  Blackburn  College,  Carlinville,  has  for  a  half  century  boasted 
of  its  culture  and  educational  attainments,  hence,  naturally,  literary  clubs  have 
been  numerous  and  popular  throughout  a  long  series  of  years. 

The  Carlinville  Woman's  Club  was,  however,  the  first  organization  among 
the  women  of  Macoupin  county  formed  on  the  new  utilitarian  lines  with  un- 
restricted membership,  and  which  acknowledged  a  common  sisterhood  and  opened 
its  ranks  to  all  the  women  of  the  community,  offering  freely  and  gladly  such  help- 
fulness and  culture  as  it  is  able  to  bestow.  The  Carlinville  Woman's  Club  was 
organized  November  29,  1899,  and  was  federated  with  the  Illinois  State  Federa- 
tion of  Women's  Clubs  in  1901. 

It  announced  that  its  "object  shall  be  mutual  counsel  and  improvement  and 
general  education,  literary  and  philanthropic  work." 

The  women  present  at  the  formation  of  the  club  were  Mesdames  John  Pitt 
Matthews,  John  Palmer  Matthews,  George  Baker,  Solan  Flautt,  Lolah  Woods, 
C.  A.  Walker,  W.  L.  Mounts,  A.  L.  Hoblit,  C.  J.  Lumpkin  and  Miss  Elizabeth 
Bell.  The  club  was  made  departmental  in  its  work  with  four  general  divisions. 
The  first  officers  of  the  club  were  president,  Mrs.  W.  L.  Mounts;  secretary  and 
treasurer,  Mrs.  C.  J.  Lumpkin;  chairman  of  literature  department,  Mrs.  John 
Pitt  Matthews;  chairman  of  the  music  department,  Mrs.  Solan  Flautt;  chairman 
of  the  art  department,  Mrs.  A.  L.  Hoblit ;  chairman  of  the  magazine  department, 
Mrs.  George  Baker.  At  the  second  election  of  officers  the  office  of  vice  president 
and  chairman  of  philanthropic  work  was  added. 

Through  its  four  departments  an  effort  has  been  made  to  offer  a.  broader  op- 
portunity for  self  culture  to  the  women  of  Carlinville.  The  literature  department 
Has  given  each  year  wide  and  intelligent  literary  studies  conducted  by  its  own 

Vol.  I-M 


434  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

members  or  by  lecture  courses.  The  music  department  has  been  a  strong  section 
and  has  endeavored  to  give  a  more  intimate  and  appreciative  knowledge  of  the 
best  in  music.  The  art  department  has  grown  from  the  study  of  old  masters 
into  the  discussions  of  civic  art  and  efforts  to  wield  an  influence  in  the  com- 
munity. The  magazine  department  has  broadened  into  the  current  events  depart- 
ment, the  work  of  which  is  to  view  more  closely  all  the  live  issues  of  the  day. 
The  philanthropic  department  stands  for  general  helpfulness  in  many  lines.  In 
the  philanthropic  work  the  club  has  done  the  most  active  work  of  this  kind  in 
the  community  since  its  organization,  and  takes  largely  the  place  of  an  organi- 
zation of  associated  charities  as  conducted  in  other  communities. 

Through  this  department  the  club  fits  out  for  school  all  cases  of  needy  chil- 
dren reported  and  gives  aid  in  cases  of  illness  and  poverty,  and  at  Christmas  time 
distributes  baskets  among  the  poor ;  besides  the  club  has  by  lectures  on  such  sub- 
jects as  the  prevention  of  tuberculosis,  pure  food  and  health  endeavored  to  aid 
in  spreading  a  knowledge  of  the  correct  way  of  living. 

The  club  has  interested  itself  in  a  strong  and  effectual  effort  to  assist  the 
educational  work  of  the  community.  March  21,  1901,  the  Blackburn  Aid  Asso- 
ciation was  formed  within  the  Woman's  Club.  The  president  of  the  club  was 
also  president  of  the  organization,  but  with  a  secretary  and  treasurer  drawn  from 
the  membership  of  the  club. 

The  object  of  the  association  was  to  raise  funds  for  Blackburn  College,  and 
was  the  initial  incentive  that  resulted  in  the  raising  of  the  large  endowment  a 
few  years  later.  The  report  of  the  work  done  by  the  Carlinville  Woman's  Club 
through  this  source  as  made  April  24,  1902,  was  $5,946.10  in  pledges,  and 
$2,389.75  in  cash,  all  of  which  was  turned  over  to  the  college  treasurer,  and  a 
field  worker  of  the  college  pressed  forward  the  work.  This  sum  represented 
untiring  work  in  the  writing  of  hundreds  of  letters  to  friends  and  the  alumni  of 
the  college,  visits  and  solicitations. 

In  1905  the  Woman's  Club  put  forth  a  vigorous  effort  again  in  behalf  of 
Blackburn  College  and  raised  $1,200,  which  placed  a  chair  of  Domestic  Science  in 
the  College  and  equipped  a  home  for  young  women  students  under  the  super- 
vision of  a  Christian  and  cultured  woman,  an  alumna  of  Columbia  College,  New 
York.  A  keen  interest  is  felt  and  hearty  support  is  given  the  college  in  all  its 
efforts  for  the  advancement  of  education  and  the  welfare  of  the  students. 

An  equally  active  interest  has  always  been  exercised  in  matters  relating  to  the 
public  schools.  Eighteen  large  and  handsomely  framed  photographs,  reproduc- 
tions of  the  best  in  art,  have  been  hung  in  the  school  rooms. 

The  club  has  many  seasons  maintained  lecture  courses  of  the  highest  grade. 
Three  seasons  the  club  took  up  the  university  extension  course  of  Chicago  Uni- 
versity and  also  concerts  of  such  high  class  that  only  through  the  labors  of  the 
Woman's  Club  has  the  community  been  able  to  enjoy  and  profit  from  the  same. 

The  club  has  followed  the  lead  of  other  clubs  in  the  state  and  has  conducted 
contests  with  school  children  in  flower  growing  and  the  beautifying  of  yards, 
and  has  successfully  appealed  to  the  City  Council  to  remove  objectionable  sights 
and  to  plant  flower  beds  in  the  public  parks. 

The  club  year  1911  and  1912  opens  on  October  19,  and  the  present  officers 
are:  President.  Mrs.  C.  J.  Lumpkin ;  vice  preseident,  Dr.  L.  H.  Corr;  secretary, 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  435 

Mrs.  Nelly  P.  Reed;  treasurer,  Mrs.  W.  D.  P.  Warren;  chairman  of  departments, 
Mrs.  Earl  Peebles,  Mrs.  E.  Patchen,  Mrs.  Lolah  Woods,  Mrs.  Lesser  Nathan, 
Mrs.  Harry  Miller. 

Larger  activities  have  presented  themselves  to  the  club  with  each  year,  and 
its  members  have  left  behind  them  the  old  selfish  spirit  of  only  self  culture  of  the 
early  women's  organizations  and  hold  out  helpful  hands  as  the  representative 
women  of  the  tewntieth  century,  strong  in  body,  mind  and  heart. 

AMERICAN   WOMAN'S  LEAGUE. 

The  Carlinville  chapter  of  the  American  Woman's  League  was  founded  by 
E.  G.  Lewis,  of  University  City,  St.  Louis,  and  was  organized  by  Miss  Edna 
Jeffries,  of  Edwardsville,  Illinois,  at  the  present  time  the  state  regent.  This 
took  place  December  5,  1909.  Dr.  L.  H.  Corr  was  selected  as  president;  Mrs. 
J.  B.  Searcy,  first  vice  president ;  Mrs.  John  Omer,  second  vice  president ;  Mrs. 
Alfred  Mayfield,  secretary;  Mrs.  W.  R.  Crew,  treasurer  and  local  representative; 
and  Mrs.  B.  M.  Davies,  corresponding  secretary. 

After  securing  ten  paid-up  members  at  $50  per  capita,  the  number  and 
amount  required  at  the  time,  the  new  association  applied  for  a  chapter  house, 
having  duly  qualified  for  that  advancement,  in  its  progress  toward  the  com- 
pletion of  preliminary  arrangements.  The  charter  was  granted  and  a  contractor 
sent  to  this  place  to  begin  work,  on  July  2ist,  1910,  that  being  the  day  made 
memorable  by  the  celebration  of  paying  off  the  last  of  the  court  house  bonds. 

The  purposes .  of  the  American  Woman's  League  are  the  educational  ad- 
vantages to  be  secured  to  woman  and  her  children,  all  minor  children  having 
equal  advantages  with  the  mother.  Over  fifty  schools  are  affiliated  with  the 
league  and  through  correspondence  the  league  has  the  privileges  of  two  hundred 
different  branches  taught.  There  is  a  fine  arts  building  at  University  City, 
where  the  fine  arts  are  taught  in  all  their  various  forms.  Painting,  sculpture, 
drawing,  pottery  and  other  work  in  this  line  are  taught.  Scholars  who  show 
particular  talent  are  received  here  and  for  such  services  as  they  are  able  to 
render,  instruction  is  given  them  under  the  best  masters  from  Europe,  free  of 
all  charge. 

The  beautiful  chapter  house  was  erected  upon  a  lot  taken  from  the  rear  of 
the  Judd  homestead  and  donated  to  the  chapter  by  Miss  Martha  E.  Judd,  for 
that  purpose. 

The  present  officers  are :  President,  Mrs.  J.  B.  Searcy ;  first  vice  president, 
Mrs.  Sadie  Deadrick ;  secretary,  Mrs.  W.  R.  Crum ;  treasurer  and  local  repre- 
sentative, Mrs.  E.  M.  Davies ;  corresponding  secretary,  Miss  M.  E.  Judd.  The 
above  are  also  unofficial  members  of  the  executive  board. 

THE    MACOUPIN    CLUB. 

One  of  Carlinville's  popular  outing  organizations  is  the  Macoupin  Club,  which 
was  organized  May  24,  1902.  Its  object  is  to  acquire,  preserve  and  maintain 
hunting  and  fishing  grounds.  The  members  secured  a  preserve  of  sixty-five  acres 
near  Rinaker  Station,  twenty-two  acres  of  which  are  covered  by  water — a 


436  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

reservoir  formed  by  the  construction  of  a  dam  across  a  ravine.  While  there  is 
no  'club  house,  there  is  a  building  for  a  keeper,  who  is  regularly  employed  to 
patrol  the  grounds  and  take  care  of  the  club's  property.  There  are  now  about 
fifty  members. 

The  officers  are :  President,  Thomas  Rinaker ;  vice  president,  Dr.  C.  A. 
Fischer;  secretary,  A.  M.  Boring;  treasurer,  A.  L.  Hoblit.  Board  of  directors: 
Silas  Tappan,  C.  H.  Burgdorff,  A.  M.  Boring,  A.  L.  Hoblit,  Thomas  Rinaker. 

Daughters  of  the  members  have  an  auxiliary  club  and  a  tastefully  built  bunga- 
low is  their  meeting  place  on  the  hunting  grounds.  There  are  about  twenty- 
five  members. 

THE   BEAVER  DAM    LAKE  CLUB. 

In  1883  the  Beaver  Dam  Lake  Club  was  organized  with  C.  A.  Walker  as 
president.  The  association  ceased  to  exist  in  1903  and  the  Henry  Bradford 
estate,  in  1904,  built  a  hotel  upon  the  ground  at  Macoupin  Station,  eight  miles 
southwest  of  Carlinville.  This  is  a  popular  resort  for  people  of  the  county 
seat  and  St.  Louis. 

CARLINVILLE'S  BEAUTIFUL  CEMETERY. 

The  records  of  the  above  cemetery  association  do  not  give  the  delver  after 
data  any  great  encouragement  to  continue  on  his  work,  for  the  reason  there  is 
little  to  be  found  relating  to  this  beautiful  burial  spot,  that  is,  regarding  its  early 
history,  that  has  been  recorded.  It  is  more  a  matter  of  tradition  when  the  first 
interment  was  made  here.  It  is  the  recollection  of  Mr.  C.  A.  Walker  that  along 
about  in  1831  he  attended  in  this  graveyard  the  funeral  of  the  child  of  a  neigh- 
bor but  the  name  is  now  beyond  his  remembrance.  Ezekiel  Good,  who  at  one 
time  owned  the  land  taken  possession  of  for  burial  purposes,  which  was  a 
part  and  parcel  of  a  tract  of  land  entered  by  him,  was  probably  the  next  one 
to  be  buried  here. 

If  the  city  has  any  title  in  law  to  this  old  burial  ground,  the  records  do  not 
so  indicate.  There  have  been  additions  made,  however,  to  that  part  now  within 
the  enclosure  and"  known  as  the  Carlinville  cemetery,  to  which  the  city  has  a 
recorded  title.  But  there  are  two  tracts  or  parcels  of  land  within  the  enclosure, 
to  which  the  city  has  no  legal  title.  That  is  that  part  known  as  the  Halderman 
graveyard,  to  which  the  Halderman  heirs  still  hold  the  title  and  that  part  known 
as  the  original  graveyard.  Of  course,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  the  title  to  the  ceme- 
tery will  never  in  all  probability  be  contraverted. 

This  cemetery  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  burial  spots  in  the  whole  state 
of  Illinois.  The  grounds  are  located  conveniently  to  the  city,  are  well  attended 
to  by  those  under  the  authority  of  the  city,  and  adornments  in  the  way  of  shade 
trees,  flowers,  beautiful  old  fashioned  and  modern  tombstones,  elegant  and  ex- 
pensive burial  vaults,  drives  and  the  like,  give  it  a  character  that  will  hardly  be 
surpassed  by  any  modern  city. 

The  Carlinville  cemetery  is  under  the  control  of  the  city  of  Carlinville,  which 
is  represented  by  a  board  of  commissioners  and  composed  of:  Thomas  C. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  437 

Loehr,  president ;  William  H.  Steward,  secretary ;   Charles   Burgdorff,  William 
H.  Behrens  and  A.  L.  Hoblit. 

In  the  southwest  part  of  Carlinville  is  located  a  beautiful  Catholic  cemetery. 


FRATERNAL  ORDERS. 

MASONS. 

Mt.  Nebo  Lodge,  No.  76,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Carlinville,  Illinois,  was  chartered 
August  2,  1849.  The  first  meeting  was  held  September  24,  1849.  The  charter 
members  and  officers  were :  Beatty  T.  Burke,  James  McLarning,  Joseph  Liston, 
N.  Barrow,  Thomas  J.  Shields,  iWilliam  Wright  and  John  Williamson. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  lodge  the  following  were  taken  in  as  members 
in  the  order  given :  Abraham  S.  Walker,  M.  H.  Maddy,  David  D.  S.  Brock, 
John  M.  Palmer,  Nicholas  Boice,  James  N.  Queen,  Levi  J.  Woods,  Daniel  T. 
Creamer  and  William  Maddox. 

Past  Masters:  1849-51,  *Beatty  T.  Burke;  1851-52,  *Nicholas  Boice;  1852-55, 
*Beatty  T.  Burke;  1855-56,  *Xicholas  Boice;  1856-62,  Thaddeus  Phillips; 
1862-65,  *George  H.  Holliday;  1865-68,  *Samuel  B.  Dugger;  1868-71,  *Thad- 
tieus  Phillips;  1871-72,  *Samuel  B.  Dugger;  1872-73,  W.  H.  Chaffee;  1873-74, 
*Samuel  B.  Dugger;  1874-75,  W.  H.  Chaffee;  1875-76,  *George  W.  Hamilton; 
1876-77,  W.  H.  Chaffee;  1877-82,  *Joseph  B.  Liston;  1882-83,  *George  S.  War- 
burton;  1883-87,  Alexander  H.  Bell;  1887-89,  George  J.  Castle,  Sr.;  1889-90, 
*James  W.  Lumpkin;  1890-91,  Bertie  M.  Burke;  1891-93,  Charles  H.  Burgdorff; 
1893-94,  Alexander  M.  Boring;  1894-96,  *Silas  W.  Tappen ;  1898-99,  Frank 
Hoblit;  1899-1900,  Everett  R.  Turnbull;  1900-01,  *Alexander  C.  Burgdorff; 
1901-02,  Thomas  Rinaker;  1902-03,  *Alexander  C.  Burgdorff;  1903-06,  James 
E.  Wooters;  1906-07,  Frank  W.  Burton;  1907-08,  Charles  E.  Boring;  1908-09, 
Robert  A.  Battise;  1909-11,  Charles  H.  Woods. 

The  present  officers  are :  W.  M.,  Victor  H.  Hemphill ;  S.  W.,  A.  J.  Duggan ; 
J.  W.,  Robert  H.  Bell;  S.  D.,  Harry  A.  Perrine;  J.  D.,  John  M.  Anderson; 
S.  S.,  Fred  E.  Gibson ;  J.  S.,  William  E.  Searcy ;  chaplain,  John  D.  Conley ; 
organist,  Everett  R.  Turnbull;  marshal,  R.  A.  Battise;  tyler,  John  Dennison. 

ODD    FELLOWS. 

.Macoupin  Lodge,  No.  107,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  instituted  October  18,  1852,  by 
Jerseyville  Lodge,  No.  53,  and  Hicks  Lodge,  Waverly,  Illinois,  led  by  District 
Deputy  Grarid  Master  Roberts,  and  was  consolidated  March  i,  1887,  with  Carlin- 
ville Lodge,  No.  350,  which  worked  in  the  German  language.  The  ceremony 
was  performed  by  Grand  Master  J.  S.  Carr,  of  Jerseyville,  Illinois.  The  name 
was  then  changed  to  Carlinville  Lodge,  No.  107,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

The  first  officers  were:  J.  W.  Hankins,  N.  G. ;  J.  F.  Cherry,  V.  G. ;  William 
Rickarts,  Sec. ;  E.  Braley,  Treas. 


Those  marked  *  are  deceased. 


438  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

•The  first  officers  of  Carlinville  Lodge,  No.  107  (after  being  consolidated), 
were :  Albert  J.  Harig,  N.  G. ;  Charles  Hamilton,  V.  G. ;  M.  F.  Smith,  Sec. ; 
Adam  Hoch,  Fin.  Sec. ;  Christ  Heinemeyer,  Treas. 

The  present  officers  are:  John  W.  Gray,  N.  G. ;  Charles  Rogers,  V.  G. ;  J. 
P.  Arnett,  Sec. ;  B.  E.  Vornkohl,  Fin.  Sec. ;  John  Hoecker,  Treas.  The  present 
membership  is  96. 

ENCAMPMENT. 

Turnbull  Encampment,  No.  42  was  instituted  October  14,  1857,  with  the 
following  members:  George  Fishback,  E.  C.  Keller,  James  F.  Drish,  J.  W. 
Hankins,  R.  J.  Haley,  Philip  Sharp,  J.  I.  Rinaker,  O.  L.  Andrist. 

The  present  officers  are :  F.  W.  Rohr,  chief  patriarch ;  Charles  Rogers,  high 
priest;  Charles  Brueggeman,  senior  warden;  W.  R.  Smalley,  junior  warden; 
C.  R.  Borough,  scribe;  John  Hoecker,  treasurer.  The  present  membership  is  35. 

REBEKAH    LODGE. 

The  first  officers  of  the  Rebekah  lodge  were :  Mary  Jones,  N.  G. ;  Mrs.  C. 
B.  Cramer,  V.  G. ;  Nell  Hoecker,  Sec. ;  Mrs.  Alice  Borough,  Treas. 

The  charter  members  were  (brothers)  C.  B.  Cramer,  Z.  H.  Waters,  Walter 
Bevers,  Ed  Glass,  W.  E.  P.  Anderson,  Sylvanus  Seaman,  David  Johnston,  F. 

E.  Wilson,  Fred  Wylder,  G.  L.  Bridges,  J.  H.  Tongate,  John  Hoecker,  B.  E. 
Vornkohl,  H.  Z.  Cox,  E.  L.  Torence,  W.  L.  Hearron,  D.  H.  Grant,  M.  T.  Crow- 
der,  M.  M.  Anderson,  B.  B.  Wilson,  C.  R.  Borough,  Fred  Johnson,  L.  Nathan. 

(Sisters) :     Mrs.  C.  B.  Cramer,  Mrs.  E.  F.  Johnson,  Mrs.  H.  Pranke,  Mrs. 

F.  Johnson,  Mrs.  Ed   Glass,   Mary  Jones,   Nellie  Seaman,   Fanny   Cox,   Betty 
Borough,  Flora  Johnson,  Mrs.  H.  Borough,  Mrs.  Sadie  Carrol,  Pearl  Anderson, 
Nell  Hoecker,  Nora  Bridges,  Mrs.  Minnie  Renner,  Mrs.  Dena  Vornkohl,  Mrs. 
Myrtle  Seaman,  Mrs.  Jennie  Lorence,  Mrs.  Lucy  Johnston,  Mrs.  Jessie  Johnston. 

The  present  officers  are:  Myrtle  Seaman,  N.  G. ;  Mrs.  Alice  Borough,  V.  G. ; 
Theresa  Renner,  Sec. ;  Mrs.  Ed  Glass,  Treas. 

MODERN    WOODMEN   OF  AMERICA. 

Carlinville  Camp,  No.  125,  M.  W.  A.  convened  October  10,  1885,  at  J.  G. 
Stewart's  photograph  gallery,  then  on  the  second  floor  of  the  old  building  where 
Cookson's  store  is  now  situated.  The  meeting  was  called  by  D.  S.  Maltby,  then 
junior  deputy  head  consul.  The  following  were  present:  M.  L.  Keplinger, 
John  G.  Stewart,  Robert  Turnbull,  Joseph  F.  Savage,  Dr.  'A.  C.  Corr,  C.  J.  C. 
Fischer,  E.  B.  Buck,  Peter  W.  Lorenz,  Henry  Klein,  James  A.  Nutchell,  B.  M. 
Burke,  George  J.  Castle,  James  M.  Pruitt,  W.  H.  H.  Horine  and  Walter 
Fishback. 

The  first  officers  were  as  follows :  Consul,  John  G.  Stewart ;  adviser,  E.  B. 
Buck;  banker,  B.  M.  Burke;  clerk,  M.  L.  Keplinger;  physicians,  Drs.  A.  C. 
Corr  and  C.  J.  C.  Fischer;  escort,  James  M.  Pruitt;  watchman,  Henry  Klein; 
sentry,  James  A.  Mitchell ;  managers,  W.  H.  H.  Horine,  Joseph  F.  Savage  and 
Robert  Turnbull. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  439 

M.  L.  Keplinger  has  every  successive  year  since  been  elected  as  clerk. 

The  present  officers  are :  Consul,  R.  P.  Brauckmueller ;  adviser,  L.  E. 
Foerster;  banker,  J.  C.  Meyer;  clerk,  M.  L.  Keplinger;  escort,  W.  E.  Sharpe; 
sentry,  Jacob  Hoehn ;  watchman,  Henry  Heitzberger ;  past  consul,  James  Owens ; 
physicians,  Drs.  C.  J.  C.  Fischer,  J.  S.  Collins  and  J.  P.  Matthews;  managers, 
fames  Owens,  George  J.  Castle  and  Mat  Seyfrit. 

M.  L.  Keplinger  has  represented  the  state  in  the  head  camp  at  Sterling, 
Omaha,  Des  Moines  and  Indianapolis.  George  J.  Castle  has  been  national 
delegate  at  Springfield  and  Buffalo.  The  camp  has  sustained  twenty-three  death 
losses.  Families  of  deceased  members  have  received  $48,000.  The  present  mem- 
bership of  the  lodge  is  260. 

KNIGHTS  OF  COLUMBUS. 

j    ' 

Carlinville  Council,  No.  663,  Knights  of  Columbus,  was  organized  in  the 
year  1902,  on  the  i8th  day  of  May,  with  a  charter  membership  of  forty-nine. 
The  first  officers  were :  G.  K.,  Daniel  E.  Keefe ;  D.  G.  K.,  William  P.  Kelly ; 
C.,  James  M.  Mahoney;  Rec.,  H.  C.  Hesseldenz;  Fin.  Sec.,  Joseph  H.  Murphy; 
Treas.,  C.  Westermeier ;  lecturer,  Rev.  Thomas  Costello ;  chaplain,  Rev.  Thomas 
Costello;  advocate,  Thomas  King;  warden,  Mathew  Seyfrit;  I.  G.,  D.  E.  Sexton; 
O.  G.,  A.  J.  Zoeppfel;  board  of  trustees,  Joseph  F.  Haskins,  Joseph  Moran, 
Frank  Schoeborn. 

The  present  officers  are :  Peter  F.  Mack,  G.  K. ;  Thomas  Costello,  D.  G.  K. ; 
Joseph  H.  Murphy,  C. ;  M.  J.  Boehm,  Rec. ;  F.  H.  Schaefer,  Fin.  Sec. ;  W.  C. 
Westermeier,  Treas. ;  R.  M.  Dunn,  lecturer  and  chaplain ;  Thomas  Sweeney, 
Adv. ;  Mathew  Seyfrit,  warden ;  M.  J.  Caveny,  I.  G. ;  J.  P.  Daley,  O.  G. 

On  Sunday,  June  25,  1911,  this  association  under  solemn  rites  conducted  by 
Rev.  Father  Quinn,  in  the  absence  of  Rev.  P.  MacDonnell,  who  was  on  a  visit 
to  the  Holy  Land,  inducted  into  the  solemnities  and  duties  of  membership  twenty- 
eight  persons. 

DAN   MESSICK   POST,    NO.   339,  G.  A.   R. 

Very  little  can  be  determined  through  inquiry  regarding  the  history  of  the 
organization  of  the  Dan  Messick  Post  here  in  Carlinville.  The  charter  is  miss- 
ing and  no  one  knows  where  the  early  records  are  to  be  found.  The  writer, 
in  his  efforts  to  place  on  record  in  this  history,  the  essentials  regarding  the  for- 
mation of  this  post,  could  find  nothing  that  gave  him  any  assistance  whatever 
in  drafting  a  detailed  article,  and  even  the  charter  members  now  living,  of 
whom  there  are  very  few,  knew  nothing  that  would  be  of  benefit  in  this  record ; 
consequently,  the  writer  communicated  with  the  headquarters  of  the  depart- 
ment of  Illinois  at  Chicago  and  received  the  following  details: 

Dan  Messick  Post,  No.  339,  Department  of  Illinois,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Carlin- 
ville, was  organized  October  9,  1883,  by  P.  Fitzgerald,  private  Company  A, 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-second  Illinois  Infantry;  W.  E.  Eastham,  Girard, 
first  lieutenant  Company  C,  Fourteenth  Illinois  Infantry;  John  M.  Cohlepp, 
corporal  Company  A,  One  Hundred  Twenty-second ;  Asher  F.  Neely,  rank  not 
given;  L.  Hinthorn,  One  Hundred  Forty-fifth  Illinois;  W.  W.  Freeman,  One 


440  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

Hundred  Twenty-second  Illinois;  John  D.  Jones,  sergeant  Company  C,  Four- 
teenth Illinois ;  William  Ranscholb,  Company  B,  One  Hundred  Forty-ninth  Illli- 
nois;  Frank  Keys,  sergeant  Company  G,  One  Hundred  Forty-fourth  Illinois; 
George  T.  Simonson,  lieutenant  colonel,  Eightieth  Illinois;  Dr.  A.  C.  Corr, 
Company  F,  One  Hundred  Thirty-third  Illinois;  J.  F.  Cole,  Company  D,  Four- 
teenth Illinois;  General  John  I.  Rinaker,  colonel  One  Hundred  Twenty-second 
Illinois ;  C.  F.  Prouty,  Company  A,  Thirty-second  Illinois ;  John  C.  Wells,  Com- 
pany H,  One  Hundred  Twenty-ninth  Illinois ;  Sidney  Jennings,  Company  E, 
Tenth  Kentucky. 

The  first  officials  were :  P.  C.,  W.  B.  Dugger ;  S.  V.  C.,  Phillip  Owens ;  J. 
V.  C.,  Frank  Keys;  Adj.,  J.  C.  Wells;  Q.  M.,  Frank  Cannon;  surgeon,  Dr.  A. 
C.  Corr;  chaplain,  W.  W.  Freeman;  O.  D.,  H.  C.  Hulse;  O.  G.,  John  Jones; 
S.  M.,  A.  T.  Tally;  Q.  M,  S.  M.  Cohlepp. 

The  present  officers  are:  Commander,  W.  H.  H.  Horine;  adjutant,  C.  T. 
Bouillon. 

ORIENT    LODGE    NO.    95,    KNIGHTS    OF    PYTHIAS. 

Of  the  number  of  secret  orders  in  Carlinville  none  enjoys  a  higher  place  in 
the  esteem  of  the  citizens  of  the  city  and  vicinity  than  does  Orient  Lodge  No. 
95,  Knights  of  Pythias.  This  lodge  was  organized  thirty  years  ago  with  thirty- 
one  charter  members.  Since  that  time  all  has  not  been  sunshine  in  its  career 
but  in  spite  of  many  obstacles  encountered  during  the  course  of  its  existence,  it 
has  achieved  an  enviable  reputation  for  loftiness  of  purpose  and  high  ideals. 
The  motive  actuating  the  men  who  were  the  principals  in  securing  a  lodge  of 
the  order  in  Carlinville  can  best  be  described  by  quoting  the  following  paragraph 
from  the  early  history  of  the  organization,  which  is  here  given : 

"It  was  in  the  month  of  November  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1881,  and  of 
fhe  Pythian  Period  XVIII,  when  the  cheerless  pit-pat  of  the  falling  leaves,  and 
the  first  blasts  of  the  chilling  north  winds,  dreary  tokens  of  the  long  winter  fast 
to  follow,  drew  aside  the  summer  mantle  of  open  handed  charity  and  cemented 
closer  the  glorious  bonds  of  human  friendship,  a  few  friends  were  met  together 
whose  hearts  and  hands  were  ever  open  to  suffering  humanity  and  whose  charity 
was  only  measured  by  the  depths  of  their  pockets.  Their  only  wish  was  to 
so  extend  the  fraternal  courtesies  and  amenities  of  life,  to  alleviate  the  suffering, 
to  succor  the  unfortunate  and  care  for  the  widow  and  orphan,  as  to  make  all 
the  world  akin." 

The  first  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  effecting  an  organization  and  securing 
the  names  of  those  who  desired  to  join  the  lodge,  was  held  in  the  grand  jury 
room  of  the  court  house  on  Thursday  evening,  November  17,  1881.  The  moving 
spirit  and  one  of  the  most  earnest  and  enthusiastic  men  in  furthering  the  cause 
of  Pythianism  was  L.  C.  Glessner,  a  member  of  Kenilworth  Lodge,  No.  60, 
Farmer  City,  Illinois,  but  then  a  resident  of  Carlinville.  At  this  meeting  Grand 
Chancellor  J.  D.  Roper,  of  Springfield,  was  present,  and  explained  the  prin- 
ciples, aims  and  objects  of  the  order.  Nine  names  were  secured  towards  pro- 
curing a  dispensation  for  the  establishing  of  the  lodge.  A  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  secure  additional  names  and  to  report  at  a  future  meeting. 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  441 

Another  meeting  was  held  on  the  evening  of  December  3,  1881,  at  the  St. 
George  Hotel,  at  which  Captain  George  J.  Castle  was  chairman.  The  previously 
appointed  committee  reported  that  they  had  made  excellent  progress  and  had 
a  number  of  additional  names  for  the  new  lodge.  Sufficient  names  had  been 
secured  to  warrant  the  grand  lodge  in  granting  a  dispensation  for  the  establish- 
ment of  the  lodge  and  then  and  there  the  following  officers,  the  first  to  serve  for 
Orient  lodge,  were  elected :  J.  iW.  Palmer,  past  chancellor ;  L.  C.  Glessner, 
chancellor  commander ;  John  T.  Rogers,  vice  chancellor ;  George  E.  Whyte,  pre- 
late; Truman  K.  Gore,  master  of  exchecquer;  Charles  Whitaker,  master  of 
finance ;  John  H.  Glass,  keeper  of  records  and  seal ;  Wm.  E.  Bellmer,  master  at 
arms ;  J.  B.  Kraus,  inner  guard ;  Cornelius  Godfrey,  outer  guard. 

Adjournment  was  taken  for  the  purpose  of  securing  more  names  for  the 
roster  of  the  lodge.  A  third  meeting  was  called  at  the  St.  George  Hotel,  on 
December  10,  1881,  at  which  Daniel  S.  Macknet,  Sr.,  occupied  the  chair.  The 
committee  reported  that  enough  names  had  been  secured  for  a  charter  for  the 
establishment  of  Orient  Lodge,  No.  95.  Quarters  were  secured  in  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows Hall,  which  was  located  then  on  the  third  floor  of  the  building  situated 
at  the  corner  of  the  square  on  the  east  side  of  South  Broad  street. 

The  Grand  Lodge  of  Emergency  met  on  the  evening  of  December  14,  1881, 
in  Odd  Fellows  Hall  and  in  the  presence  of  a  distinguished  gathering  of  mem- 
bers of  the  order,  Orient  Lodge,  No.  95,  had  its  birth.  The  ceremonies  were 
in  charge  of  Grand  Chancellor  J.  D.  Roper  of  Springfield,  assisted  by  Past  Grand 
Chancellor  C.  G.  Averill,  also  of  Springfield,  and  members  from  White  Cross 
Lodge,  No.  66,  Litchfield,  Antioch  Lodge,  No.  65,  Jerseyville,  and  Capital  Lodge, 
No.  14,  of  Springfield.  It  was  a  notable  Pythian  occasion  and  was  marked  by  en- 
thusiasm and  earnestness.  The  following  were  the  charter  members : 

Charles  Whitaker,  J.  H.  Glass,  J.  W.  Clark,  E.  K.  Johnson,  C.  H.  Klauenberg, 
T.  K.  Gore,  William  E.  Bellmer,  John  W.  Phillips,  J.  B.  Kraus,  J.  F.  Sunderland, 

B.  H.  Dorsey,  George  J.  Castle,  D.  S.  Macknet,  Sr.,  J.  T.  Rogers,  G.  E.  Whyte, 
A.  A.  Atkins,  William  H.  H.  Horine,  J.  W.  Palmer,,  G.  Fano,  Thomas  E.  Moore, 

C.  W.  Gibbs,  J.  E.  Moore,  J.  F.  Pruitt,  T.  G.  Cundall,  J.  J.  Franks,  George 
Harrington.  L.  Nathan,  R.  A.  Love,  J.  K.  Simonson,  W.  H.  Poley,  Lee  Hin- 
thorne. 

For  a  number  of  years  the  lodge  prospered.  Later,  however,  reverses  came 
and  it  was  deemed  best  to  surrender  the  charter.  This  was  done  on  March 
26,  1886,  which  was  the  date  of  the  last  meeting  held  under  the  original  organi- 
zation. 

Through  the  persistent  efforts  of  a  number  of  loyal  Knights  in  Carlinville, 
interest  in  a  lodge  was  revived.  On  February  28,  1890,  a  meeting  was  called 
in  the  G.  A.  R.  Hall,  for  the  purpose  of  reorganizing  the  defunct  lodge.  The 
meeting  was  called  to  order  by  Captain  George  J.  Castle  and  T.  K.  Gore  was 
elected  chairman,  F.  Ladd  secretary.  Past  Grand  Chancellor  J.  D.  Roper  was 
present  at  this  meeting  representing  the  grand  chancellor.  Names  were  secured 
to  the  petition  and  an  election  of  officers  was  held  resulting  as  follows :  William 
H.  H.  Horine,  past  chancellor;  T.  K.  Gore,  chancellor  commander;  B.  F.  Whit- 
comb,  vice  chancellor;  J.  H.  Meteer,  prelate;  C.  H.  Klauenberg,  master  of  ex- 


r  r  /  f 


442  HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY 

checquer;  George  J.  Castle,  master  of  finance;  J.  W.  Phillips,  master  at  arms; 
F.  Ladd,  keeper  of  records  and  seal. 

The  meeting  adjourned  with  a  committee  appointed  to  secure  additional 
names  to  the  petition.  Enough  names  having  been  added  to  warrant  the  restora- 
tion of  the  original  charter,  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Emergency  assembled  on  the 
evening  of  March  13,  1890,  in  G.  A.  R.  Hall  and  the  lodge  was  reinstituted 
Past  Grand  Chancellor  J.  D.  Roper  was  the  instituting  officer.  At  the  close 
of  the  work  a  banquet  was  served  at  the  St.  George  Hotel. 

Since  this  time  the  lodge  has  gone  steadily  forward.  It  numbers  among  its 
large  membership  many  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Carlinville  and  vicinity.  No 
distinction  of  birth  or  the  possession  of  wealth  has  figured  in  its  requirements 
for  membership.  The  lodge  is  proud  of  the  many  names  upon  its  roster  which 
are  those  of  men  who  claim  no  distinction  except  that  of  honesty  and  a  sincere 
desire  to  be  of  assistance  to  their  fellowmen.  Few  of  the  charter  members  are 
now  living  but  their  presence  and  counsel  in  the  Castle  Hall  is  always  an  in- 
spiration. Upon  many,  many  sad  occasions  in  the  thirty  years  of  its  existence 
has  the  lodge  been  called  upon  to  solemnly  follow  to  their  last  resting  place  the 
remains  of  devoted  and  beloved  members  and  with  the  simple  but  impressive 
rites  of  the  order,  consigned  them  to  the  dust  from  whence  they  came.  The 
same  duty  has  oft  been  performed  for  Knights  not  members  of  Orient  lodge. 

Orient  lodge  was  signally  honored  at  the  session  of  the  grand  lodge  held  in 
the  city  of  Danville,  in  1910.  On  Wednesday,  October  igth,  of  that  year,  Judge 
John  B.  Vaughn,  a  member  of  the  lodge,  was  elected  to  the  exalted  position  of 
grand  chancellor  of  the  grand  domain  of  Illinois.  To  modestly  commemorate 
this  event,  Grand  Chancellor  Vaughn  was  tendered  a  reception  at  the  lodge  rooms 
on  the  west  side  'of  the  square  on  the  afternoon  of  Thursday,  November  3.  It 
was  open  to  the  public  and  was  largely  attended  by  the  members  of  the  order 
and  the  citizens  of  Carlinville  and  vicinity.  A  number  of  grand  lodge  officers 
were  present.  In  the  evening  of  the  same  day  an  entertainment  in  the  lodge 
room  was  given  in  his  honor,  which  was  attended  by  the  members  and  their 
families.  For  this  event,  the  spacious  lodge  room  was  handsomely  decorated 
with  autumn  leaves  and  the  happy  occasion  can  be  truly  said  to  have  been  an 
epoch  in  the  history  of  Orient  lodge.  This  high  office  came  to  Judge  Vaughn 
through  his  own  efforts  and  untiring  and  unselfish  work  for  the  order.  He  served 
one  year,  and  discharged  the  arduous  duties  of  grand  chancellor  with  marked  suc- 
cess, reflecting  credit  upon  himself  and  honor  to  the  order.  There  are  nine 
lodges  of  the  order  in  Macoupin  county,  and  Orient  lodge  has  instituted  or 
assisted  in  instituting  all  of  them. 

For  the  past  ten  years  a  series  of  brilliant  mid-winter  entertainments,  very 
successful  in  character,  have  been  a  special  feature.  These  entertainments  are 
paid  for  by  the  membership,  and  attended  by  the  members  and  invited  guests. 

The  observance  of  the  annual  Memorial  Day  has  been  strictly  maintained 
since  the  establishment  of  this  custom  many  years  ago.  Each  recurring  year 
the  day  is  reverently  and  faithfully  marked  with  simple  but  impressive  services. 

Since  the  small  beginning  thirty  years  ago  the  lodge  has  grown  in  numbers 
and  influence.  It  now  has  the  names  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  members  enrolled 
upon  its  roster.  Since  Orient  lodge  was  instituted  it  has  occupied  quarters  in 


HISTORY  OF  MACOUPIN  COUNTY  443 

four  different  locations.  From  December  14,  1881,  to  March  26,  1886,  the 
conventions  were  held  in  Odd  Fellows  Hall,  then  located  on  the  south  side  of 
the  square.  From  March  13,  1890,  to  April  9,  1895,  it  assembled  in  the  old 
G.  A.  R.  Hall  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  square.  On  April  9,  1895,  the 
lodge  held  their  first  convention  in  a  hall  which  they  fitted  up  on  the  third  story 
of  the  building  at  the  northeast  corner  of  the  square.  Realizing  the  need  for 
a  larger  home,  the  lodge  rented  quarters  on  the  second  floor  of  the  building  it 
now  occupies  on  the  west  side  of  the  square.  This  is  one  of  the  largest  and  hand- 
somest lodge  rooms  in  Illinois,  beautifully,  but  not  expensively  furnished.  The 
main  lodge  room  is  44  by  55  feet.  There  are  club  rooms  attached  which  are 
open  at  all  times  to  the  members  and  visiting  Knights.  The  first  convention 
was  held  in  this  hall  on  March  20,  1906.  The  present  officers  elected  and  in- 
stalled on  July  4,  1911,  are  the  following:  E.  A.  Ibbetson,  chancellor  com- 
mander; V.  H.  Hemphill,  vice  chancellor;  Edw.  Trover,  Jr.,  prelate;  E.  N. 
Woolley,  master  of  work;  John  F.  Kiefer,  master  of  exchecquer;  Geo.  C. 
Schoenherr,  master  of  finance ;  F.  E.  Gibson,  keeper  of  records  and  seal ;  A.  J. 
Mueller,  master  at  arms;  John  M.  Anderson,  inner  guard;  T.  K.  Rinaker,  outer 
guard. 

This  brief  record  of  Orient  lodge,  No.  95,  would  not  be  complete  without 
special  mention  of  James  H.  Meteer,  one  of  its  most  devoted  and  faithful  mem- 
bers. He  was  the  last  member  initiated  before  the  charter  was  surrendered  in 
March,  1886,  and  was  one  of  the  first  officers  elected  under  the  reorganization. 
For  fourteen  years  he  was  the  able  master  of  finance,  discharging  his  duties 
with  zealous  fidelity.  Some  two  years  ago  Mr.  Meteer  was  stricken  with  blind- 
ness, totally  incapacitating  him  for  work.  In  spite  of  this  trying  affliction  he  is 
still  the  cheerful,  optimistic  Knight  as  of  yore.  To  his  sterling  honesty,  his 
faith  in  his  fellowman,  and  his  long  and  unselfish  work  for  the  lodge,  this  para-  - 
graph  is  fraternally  dedicated. 


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